DEFENCE

Afghanistan

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the initial achievements of (a) the Provisional Reconstruction Team in Mazar-e-Sharif and (b) the other provisional reconstruction teams.

Adam Ingram: In its first eight months the United Kingdom-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Mazar-e Sharif has made good progress against all its objectives. The achievements of other PRTs is a matter for their own Lead Nations but, collectively, they all contribute towards the wider goal of restoring a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  where and on what date (a) Rhadi Nama, (b) Ahmed Jabber Karrem, (c) Nadhem Abdulla, (d) Abd Al Jalba Mouse Ali, (e) Hazma Abdul Hussein Al-Askary, (f) Waed Jabber Raheem and (g) Jasim Yassim Jabbar Al-Shuirillway died; and what the cause of death was in each case;
	(2)  where and on what date (a) Hussan Said Shaba Al-Bata, (b) Said Shabram, (c) Waleed Fiaz Mejban, (d) Bala Nasheem Mohammed, (e) Hassan Abbad Saied, (f) Ather Karen Al-Mowafetaia, (g) Ali Salaam Ayi Mohammed and (h) Dyab Rehman Nasser died; and what the cause of death was in each case.

Adam Ingram: The deaths occurred within the United Kingdom Area of Operations, though it is not the purpose of the SIB inquiry to determine the cause of death.
	
		
			 Name Date of death 
		
		
			 Rhadi Nama 8 May 2003 
			 Ahmed Jabber Kareem 8 May 2003 
			 Nadhem Abdullah 11 May 2003 
			 Abd Al Jubba Mousa Ali 17 May 2003 
			 Hazma Abdul Hussein Al-Askery 18 May 2003 
			 Waed Jabber Raheem 26 May 2003 
			 Jasim Yassim Jabber Al-Shimillwy 15 June 2003 
			 Hussan Said Shaba Al-Bata 24 October 2003 
			 Said Shabram 24 May 2003 
			 Waleed Fiaz Mezban 2 September 2003 
			 Baha Nasheem Mohammed 15 September 2003 
			 Hassan Abbad Said 2 August 2003 
			 Ather Karen Al-Mowafakia 29 April 2003 
			 Ali Salaam Aziz Mohammed 3 May 2003 
			 Dyab Rahman Nasser 5 May 2003

Chris Rowlands

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the discharge of Chris Rowlands from the Army.

Ivor Caplin: In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, I am unable to make public any personal data relating to Chris Rowlands unless the hon. Member has his explicit consent.

Service Communications

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many departmental personnel are involved in communications activities for the (a) Naval Service, (b) Army and (c) Royal Air Force.

Ivor Caplin: Within the Ministry of Defence headquarters' corporate communications organisation there are a number of staff employed primarily on the communications activities of the three single Services. As at 22 March 2004 the number of such personnel (including support staff and photographers) was:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 (a) Royal Navy (1)19 
			 (b) Army 11 
			 (c) Royal Air Force 13 
		
	
	(1) This includes a team of four Naval photographers who undertake a number of joint service tasks.

Kosovo

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met his European Union counterparts to discuss matters relating to the security situation in (a) Kosovo and (b) Serbia-Montenegro.

Geoff Hoon: I regularly meet my European Union counterparts to discuss defence matters, including those relating to the Balkans. In particular, I attended the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council on 17–18 November 2003, at which security issues in the Balkans were discussed.

Kosovo

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from the Government of Serbia-Montenegro regarding Prime Minister Kostunica's proposal for the deployment of Serbian forces to Kosovo.

Geoff Hoon: I discussed recent events in Kosovo with the Serbia and Montenegro Defence Minister, Boris Tadic. The issue of deploying Serbian troops to Kosovo was not raised.

Kosovo

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the extent to which the borders between (a) Kosovo and Albania and (b) Kosovo and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are adequately secured; and who controls them.

Geoff Hoon: Responsibility for border control points in Kosovo is held by the Kosovo Police Service under the authority of the UN Interim Administration Mission In Kosovo (UNMIK). Responsibility for the territorial integrity of Kosovo, including adjacent to the border with Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), rests with KFOR. On the Macedonian side of the border, the responsibility for border crossing points rests with by the FYROM Border Police and for the rest of the border with the First Army Brigade. On the Albanian side of the Kosovo—Albanian border, the Albanian Police have responsibility for border control.
	We assess that Kosovo's borders with both Albania and FYROM are adequately secured.

Kosovo

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the security situation in the Kosovo towns of (a) Mitrovica, (b) Orahovac and (c) Pristina.

Geoff Hoon: The security situation in Kosovo, including the towns of Mitrovica, Orahovac and Pristina, is calm following the violent events of last week. NATO, including KFOR forces on the ground, continues to monitor the situation.

Leslie John Douglas

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the outcome was of the investigation into the death of Mr. Leslie John Douglas; when a Board of Inquiry was convened; what its recommendations were; and what further action has been taken.

Adam Ingram: The Royal Military Police Special Investigation, despite extensive witness interviews and forensic examination, was inconclusive.
	A Board of Inquiry (BOI) into Cpl Douglas's death was convened in November 2001. It made the following recommendations on range safety:
	that reminders of key Range Planning and Safety Regulations should be issued periodically to the Chain of Command;
	that Guidance on safe bayonet fitting drills should be reviewed;
	that measures be taken to reinforce the need for completion of all aspects of Stage 4 Transition to Field Firing training, prior to commencing Stage 5 Field Firing.
	The following actions have been taken:
	periodic reminders of key Range Planning and Safety Regulations are now issued to the chain of command;
	guidance on safe bayonet fitting was reviewed and amended;
	all training authorities are now reminded periodically of the need to ensure proper progression of training.

Medical Reservists

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many medical reservists there were in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The following table provides information on the number of medical reservists as at 1 April 1997 and 1 April 2003. Figures for 1997 are not available for the Royal Navy Reserves.
	
		
			 Service 1997 2003 
		
		
			 Territorial Army 4,440 3,680 
			 Royal Navy Reserves — 156 
			 RauxAF 144 138

Sean Benton

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recommendations were made by the Board of Inquiry into the death of Sean Benton concerning security instructions and orders governing armed guard duties at Deepcut barracks; and what action has subsequently been taken on the implementation of each of these recommendations.

Adam Ingram: During its investigation the Board of Inquiry (BOI) highlighted a number of concerns, largely relating to security orders and procedures within the Guardroom. Direction was given for the following actions to be taken, and these were implemented by the end of August 1995:
	review all security and guard procedures to ensure that they are relevant and in accordance with the current regulations and instructions;
	review all instructions within the Guardroom, and in particular instructions given to the guard and other duty personnel;
	issue clear orders relating to the issue of weapons and ammunition and the safeguarding of such weapons while they are in an individuals charge;
	review procedures for the posting of relief guards.
	In its concluding report, the BOI also made the following recommendations, all of which have been implemented:
	adequate instructions should exist for all sentry posts;
	reliefs should be posted by the Guard Commander, Guard 2IC or Regimental Police Duty staff;
	a standardized Guard Commanders Order to the guard format should be adopted;
	guards should be clearly told that they are not to handover their weapons or ammunition unless specifically ordered to do so by a member of the Regimental Police Staff, Guard Commander or Guard 2IC;
	orders should be clearly displayed in the Guardroom;
	the Guard and Guard Reserve should be paraded as two separate contingents;
	guards should be rotated between posts during their period of duty thereby safeguarding against complacency.

Territorial Army

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what help is given to Territorial Army soldiers who have lost their job owing to service with the military in the last five years; and how many TA personnel have been affected.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence provides detailed advice to reservists on their legal right to reclaim their civilian employment in the UK and how to seek reinstatement, in line with the Reserve Forces (Safeguard of Employment) Act 1985. Each reservist receives a copy of JSP 532 "Guidance for reservists returning to civilian employment following a period of mobilised service". The Supporting Britain's Reservists and Employers (SaBRE) campaign team provides a help line and a website which gives additional information and advice. Also, each Reserve Forces and Cadet Association (RFCA) has an Employer Support Executive who is able to offer advice and assistance to reservists who are experiencing problems returning to their civilian employment. We are also introducing Unit Employer Support Officers to boost further our capability in this area.
	In addition, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced on 11 December 2003 in the Defence White Paper, we will be examining the effectiveness of the 1985 Act and the other measures that go with it.
	There is no requirement for reservists to provide the information requested to the Department. There is, therefore, no comprehensive record of the numbers of reservists who may have lost their civilian jobs. However, indications are that civilian employers have been very supportive of reservists and, of over 9,200 reservists called-out to support Operation TELIC, we are aware of only 15 individuals who have brought, or are seeking to bring, cases to Reinstatement Committees under the 1985 Act (as at 17 March 2004). In addition, two applications were made resulting from the mobilisation of reservists for operations in the Balkans.
	There is one small TA unit based in Germany, where the 1985 Act does not apply. Special arrangements have therefore been put in place to offer Full Time Reserve Service appointments to 11 reservists called up for Operation TELIC, who have not been able to return to their original employment. This is intended to provide continuity of employment until they are able to start new jobs. We are very concerned to learn that these members of the TA lost their civilian jobs, and plan to raise this matter with the relevant German authorities.

TREASURY

Small Businesses

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes have been made since 1997 to the tax system to promote enterprise and growth in small businesses; and what assessment he has made of their effectiveness.

Dawn Primarolo: Changes to taxation since 1997 are set out in the relevant Financial Statement and Budget Reports, which are available in the Library of the House. They include a range of measures to promote investment and productivity, including cuts in corporation tax and income tax rates for the self-employed, improvements to capital allowances for small enterprises, the simplification of the VAT regime, introduction and expansion of the R and D tax credits and support for venture capital.

Biofuels

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to complete his consultation on biofuels; whom he plans to consult; and how the consultation will be conducted.

John Healey: The Department for Transport will shortly consult on the Government's draft biofuels directive implementation strategy. This will include options on complementary regulatory measures, including the option of a biofuels obligation for the transport sector.
	Furthermore, the Chancellor announced in this year's Budget that the Government will be discussing with stakeholders two separate issues concerning biofuels: (a) The implications of input-based taxation on biofuels, and (b) the application of enhanced capital allowances to support investment into the most environmentally beneficial biofuels processing plants.

Direct Payment

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer from the Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions of 27 February 2004, Official Report, column 584W, how many (a) Post Office card accounts and (b) bank or building society accounts have (i) been requested for and (ii) are receiving payments of child benefit, broken down by region.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 22 March 2004
	Key figures on the progress of conversion of child benefit customers to direct payment are available in the House of Commons Library, updated every four weeks. They include details of requests for the Post Office card account. With regard to actual payments, as at 16 March 2004 a total of 5,750,105 child benefit customers were being paid into a bank or building society and 233,220 into a Post Office card account. There are a further 127,453 customers who have provided bank or building society details and 91,647 who have provided Post Office account details and they will be paid into their accounts when their current order book expires.
	It is not possible to break down the numbers by region.

Community Benefit Society Asset Locks

Mark Todd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish a consultation paper on the introduction of the community benefit society asset locks described in the Co-operatives and Community Benefit Societies Act 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The Government intends to publish a consultation document on the introduction of the community benefit society asset lock later this year.

Complaints

Rob Marris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints there were to (a) the Inland Revenue, (b) HM Customs and Excise and (c) district valuers' offices in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is published in HM Customs and Excise's and the Inland Revenue's Annual Reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

E-business Strategy

Oliver Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to produce the e-business strategy for (a) HM Customs and Excise and (b) the Public Record Office.

John Healey: HM Customs and Excise has had an e-Business Strategy for several years. It has been updated periodically to reflect changes in thinking and the impacts of external initiatives. A summary of current plans will be published later in the year. Part (b) of the question is the responsibility of the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

Energy Saving Allowance

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what standards for loft and cavity wall insulation will apply for qualification under the Landlord's Energy Saving Allowance.

John Healey: The standards for loft insulation will be set out in regulations made under powers to be set out in Finance Bill 2004.

Inland Revenue

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will announce the name of the next Chairman of the Inland Revenue.

Dawn Primarolo: Following Sir Nicholas Monatgu's retirement on 19 March 2004, Miss Ann Chant has assumed the role of Acting Chairman of the Inland Revenue.
	My right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced in his Budget speech that the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise will be integrated to create a new Department. The advertisement for the post of Chairman of the new Department was posted on the Treasury website on 18 March 2004. An announcement of the successful candidate will be made in due course.

Personal Tax Allowances

Stephen Byers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the Exchequer would be of allowing a married person to transfer their personal tax allowance to their earning spouse if they have (a) a child aged between six months and one year and (b) a child aged between one year and two years.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 23 March 2004
	The cost to the Exchequer through lower income tax of allowing married persons with children to transfer their full personal allowance to their spouse if he or she has a higher gross income for the two options are listed below.
	
		Cost in 2004–05 per annum -- £ million
		
			 Option 
		
		
			 a) married and with at least one child aged between 6 months and one year 160 
			 b) married and with at least one child aged between one year and two years 340 
		
	
	Note:Figures rounded to the nearest £10 million. They exclude any estimate of behavioural response to the tax change.
	The change in revenue for other taxes can only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

Tax Avoidance

John McFall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which companies are known (a) to be selling or to have sold versions of the card handling scheme used to reduce VAT bills and (b) to be using or to have used the scheme; and how much revenue is involved in each case.

John Healey: HM Customs and Excise is debarred by statute from disclosing information about the individual affairs of taxpayers. Exemption 15 (Statutory and other restrictions) of the Open Government Code applies. However, Customs are aware of around 78 taxpayers using the card handling scheme, involving around £301 million of VAT revenue. Customs are vigorously tackling these schemes through the courts and have successfully contested a test case in the VAT and Duties Tribunal.

Tax Fraud and Evasion

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the estimated amount of money lost in each of the last five fiscal years to tax fraud and evasion.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 22 March 2004
	There is no reliable estimate of the overall "tax gap" for direct taxes. Lord Grabiner in his review of the hidden economy and the OECD's Centre for Tax Policy and Administration have both concluded that it is a concept difficult if not impossible to measure.
	Estimates for indirect tax losses can be found in 'Measuring and Tackling Indirect Tax Losses' (December 2003). A copy of this document has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

VAT

Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses his Department estimated would be lifted out of the VAT regime at the time of each increase in the annual taxable turnover limit since 1997.

John Healey: On average, annual increases in the VAT registration threshold keep around 3,000 of the smallest businesses out of the VAT system.
	Estimates of the number of businesses kept out by each increase since 1997 are given in the following table:
	
		£000
		
			 Date of increase New threshold Number of businesses 
		
		
			 December 1997 49,000 200 (part year effect only) 
			 April 1998 50,000 3,000 
			 April 1999 51,000 3,000 
			 April 2000 52,000 3,000 
			 April 2001 54,000 5,000 
			 April 2002 55,000 2,000 
			 April 2003 56,000 2,000 
			 April 2004 58,000 5,000 
		
	
	(Businesses that did not grow in real terms will be reflected in more than one year so individual estimates should not be summed)

VAT

Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many small businesses have taken up the flat rate VAT scheme in each year since its introduction.

John Healey: The VAT flat rate scheme for small businesses was introduced on 25 April 2002. There were approximately 8,000 businesses using the scheme at 31 March 2003, and around 15,000 in December 2003.

VAT

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will refund to charitable museums VAT which has been incurred on (a) purchases made possible by grant monies from the National Lottery and (b) other purchases.

John Healey: Admission of persons to premises for a charge is a business activity for VAT purposes, so a museum that charges for admissions will normally be able to recover the VAT incurred on its purchases, building maintenance and other costs. Museums that charge admission fees that are exempt from VAT are not able to recover VAT incurred on their purchases.
	Under normal VAT rules, VAT incurred on goods and services relating to 'non-business' activities cannot be recovered. Free admission of persons to premises is a non-business activity for VAT purposes, therefore museums which do not charge for admission, cannot recover the VAT they incur on related purchases, irrespective of the source of the funding used to make these purchases.
	However, in September 2001, the Government introduced a VAT refund scheme which allows the main national museums and galleries which do not charge admission to recover VAT they incur on their purchases. This scheme was designed to remove an obstacle VAT was creating to the delivery of the Government's 1997 manifesto commitment that there should be free access to the main national museums and galleries.
	The Chancellor has also announced in this year's Budget that the commitment to achieve free access has been an outstanding success and that, building on this success and in light of the Goodison Review, the Government will now consider the issue of extending the free access commitment for the main national museums and galleries, and the VAT refund scheme that has helped to deliver it, to university museums in the context of the forthcoming Spending Review.

Working Tax Credit

John Denham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families are receiving the child care element of working tax credit; what the cost has been to date; and what proportion of families with children of eligible age this represents.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 17 March 2004
	The number of families benefiting from the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit, and their average help with childcare costs through this element, appear in Table 4.4 of each issue of "Child and Working Tax Credits. Quarterly Statistics."
	Each issue of this publication appears on the Inland Revenue web site, at www.inlandrevenue.aov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm.
	The childcare element is available to single parents working for at least 16 hours per week, and to couples both working for at least 16 hours per week or where one works for at least 16 hours per week and the other is incapacitated, or a hospital inpatient or is in prison. The element covers eligible childcare costs incurred on children up to 1 September 2004 following their 15th birthday (16th if disabled).
	Child benefit records indicate that at December 2003 there were 6.4 million families with at least one child whose 15th birthday was due to fall after 1 September 2004.

SCOTLAND

Asbestos

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the buildings occupied by his staff which require (a) remedial work on and (b) removal of asbestos; what that work will cost; what budgets are available for this work for (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005; and what budget is available for future asbestos surveys.

Anne McGuire: No buildings occupied by the Scotland Office currently require work related to the removal of asbestos. The costs of any work required in future will be met from within the administration costs for the Office.

Asbestos

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of buildings occupied by his staff have been surveyed for the purpose of identifying the presence of asbestos prior to the implementation of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office has been complying with the relevant provisions of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 for buildings occupied by its staff. Final work will be undertaken to check for the presence of asbestos prior to the introduction of Regulation 4 in May 2004.

Common Fisheries Policy

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister on the effects of reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

Anne McGuire: My right hon. Friend and the First Minister discuss a wide range of matters.

Departmental Communications

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the total expenditure on communications for the Department has been in 2003–04, broken down by expenditure on (a) Government Information and Communications Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers.(ii) special advisers and (iii) others.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office spent £180,582 on communications for the period up to the end of February 2004. This expenditure is attributable to press office staff (who are also members the Government Information and Communications Service) and special advisers. Details of the costs of special advisers are given on an annual basis. Information for the financial year 2003–04 will be published in due course.

Mineral Water Industry

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate his Department has made of the number of jobs in Scotland dependent upon the mineral water industry.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office has made no such estimation of job numbers dependent upon the mineral water industry.
	The most recent Scottish Executive figures illustrate that the wider bottled water and soft drinks industry directly employed 1,933 people in Scotland in 2002.

Scottish Executive

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the annual change in the block grant paid to the Scottish Executive was in each year since 1999; what percentage of the change for each year resulted from the application of the Barnett Formula; and what percentage of the change for each year resulted from other monies added to or subtracted from the block grant.

Anne McGuire: Information on the block grant to the Scottish Executive is set out in the main and supplementary estimates of the Scotland Office and in Scotland Office departmental reports. Changes to the Scotland DEL are determined in accordance with the Statement of Funding Policy, published by HM Treasury.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Capital Modernisation Fund (Crosby)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Capital Modernisation Fund computer-learning centres have been established in Crosby.

Ivan Lewis: There are three UK online centres in Crosby.
	Two of those are Capital Modernisation Fund (CMF) centres and one is a public library. The two CMF Centres "3TC" and Merseyside Third Technology Centre and the public library is Crosby Connect Learning Centre at Crosby Library.

Capital Modernisation Fund (Crosby)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people in Crosby have received a computer to assist in seeking employment or retraining.

Ivan Lewis: At present no centrally funded schemes exist which enable people to acquire free or low price recycled computers. In the past such schemes have been trialled but have proved costly to administer to ensure fair distribution of equipment.
	Government funding has been focused instead upon establishing the network of UK online centres. People in Crosby who do not have ICT access and wish to use computers are advised to visit their local UK online centre.

Sure Start

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Sure Start children's centres have been set up in deprived neighbourhoods since 2003.

Margaret Hodge: There are currently 67 children's centres in England, all of which are based in disadvantaged areas. We announced 32 on 23 June 2003, 29 on 24 September 2003 and a further six on 18 February 2004. We are currently considering proposals from local authorities for the wider roll out of this programme, and will announce new locations in the near future as further centres are ready for designation. All children's centres will be based in the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged wards in England, or in pockets of disadvantage outside of these wards.

Education (Stroud)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of teachers in Stroud have received computer training.

Charles Clarke: Statistics on teacher training in ICT are not compiled on a constituency basis, but all teachers are expected to be able to use ICT effectively in the classroom. In-service training was largely addressed by the UK-wide National Lottery-funded New Opportunities Fund (NOF) ICT training, which ran between 1999 and 2003, and to which some 96 per cent. of teachers in England signed up.
	Training in the effective use of ICT in teaching is also a mandatory part of Teacher Training Institute courses.
	Further training opportunities to address teachers' continuing professional development needs (CPD) in embedding ICT in classroom teaching are now being developed across a range of subjects, and teachers are able to buy into this training using Standards Fund monies.

IT Procurement

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action the Department is taking to improve and increase (a) school and (b) local education authority IT procurement.

Charles Clarke: The Government is making significant investment in ICT in schools and always looks to ensure schools get the best value for money from this investment. Currently through the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta) we are supporting schools and LEAs by
	aggregating procurements through the creation of framework contracts which deliver significant savings in price and considerably reduce the time and effort that would be needed (and duplicated) at local level;
	the recent agreement between Becta and Microsoft Ltd in relation to their licensing framework for schools provides significant savings of between 20 per cent. to 37 per cent. for schools in England who choose to license the Microsoft software. The agreement also extends to schools in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland;
	accrediting suppliers against strict commercial and technical criteria to provide assurance of quality service at affordable cost;
	providing procurement advice to schools and LEAs though the Becta Independent Procurement Advisory Service (IPAS) and online advice and support to schools on the total cost of ownership and the issues to be considered beyond just the cost of infrastructure equipment.

Maintained Schools (Languages)

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in maintained schools he estimates were studying one or more modern foreign languages at key stage two in each of the last five years.

Stephen Twigg: A 2001 study by QCA and the University of Warwick of modern foreign languages in the primary curriculum suggested that one in five primary schools were offering some form of language provision. The Department is currently reviewing this figure, and the number of primary pupils engaged in languages through further research, the findings of which will be available in late spring.

Return-to-work Training (Crosby)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many women in Crosby have visited an information and communications technology training centre in order to learn skills to return to work.

Ivan Lewis: Crosby is served by both UK online centres and learndirect provisions.
	An estimated 169 women use UK online centres in Crosby each quarter.
	This information is calculated from UK online quarterly management information (quarter ending December 2003) which shows that, on average, each UK online centre has 101 users and that 56 per cent. of UK online users are female.
	To date, 555 women have enrolled on a learndirect course from the Crosby constituency.

Schools (West Suffolk)

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many schools in the west Suffolk constituency have benefited from the Out of School Hours Learning Programme;
	(2)  what financial provisions have been made for those schools who wish to continue the after school activities that have come about from the Out of School Hours Learning Programme once funding from the programme ends.

Stephen Twigg: Suffolk Local Education Authority has informed my Department that it has distributed £725,186 from the Department's Standards Fund to all schools in Suffolk this year to provide study support opportunities (out of school hours learning) for young people in Suffolk.
	Study support includes activities such as sport, the creative arts and cultural activities, as well as after school and breakfast clubs. Suffolk has also received £720,564 from the New Opportunities Fund 'Out of School Hours Learning Programme' of which £219,802 went to schools in West Suffolk. Again, this can be used to provide a range of activities for young people.
	School funding plans for next year have been announced, guaranteeing that the standards fund income for all schools will be protected at this year's levels plus inflation proofing at 4 per cent.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Peat

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has (a) to re-convene the Peat Working Group and (b) to engage the United Kingdom gardening industry in helping the Government to meet its target of 90 per cent. of growing media and soil improvers to be peat free by 2010.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department held a seminar involving all stakeholders on 30 April 2003 to examine the current and future development and use of environmentally friendly growing media and how this should be taken forward in the light of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan targets. The seminar's conclusions included establishment of a new Forum to replace the Peat Working Group to assist us in taking an informed view on the achievability of the 90 per cent. peat free target during the next review of the UK Biodiversity Action plan targets due in 2005.
	Work on the composition of the new Forum and arrangements for the first meeting have regrettably been delayed. We hope to convene the new Forum as soon as resources and priorities allow. In establishing the new Forum we will seek representation from all the stakeholders including the gardening industry.

Animal Welfare

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 3 March 2004, Official Report, column 930W, what action she is taking to reduce the usage of veterinary antibiotics.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government recognises that animals do become ill and need to be treated for both animal welfare and consumer safety reasons. Antimicrobials play an important part in maintaining healthy food-producing and companion animals. However, the Government firmly believes that the use of these products should not replace good farm management and animal husbandry systems.
	The Government's aim is to reduce the use of antimicrobials on farm as part of an overall strategy of managing the risk to humans from antimicrobial resistance.
	In addition to supporting the EU wide ban on antimicrobial growth promoters from 1 January 2006, key elements of this strategy include the collection and publication of information on the quantities of antimicrobials sold each year for veterinary use in the UK and the promotion of optimal and responsible use of antimicrobials in animal rearing. In this context the Government has worked closely with the Responsible Use of Medicines Alliance (RUMA) in drawing up their Codes of Practice on responsible use of veterinary medicines for cattle, sheep, poultry and pig producers.

Animal Welfare

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 3 March 2004, Official Report, column 930W, what recent research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effect on humans of receiving antibiotics through the eating of meat and poultry, with particular reference to hospital superbugs.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra's research programme into antimicrobials is designed to take forward the issues identified by the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) in their 1999 Report on Microbial Antibiotic Resistance in Relation to Food Safety. This concluded that further research was required into the extent to which antibiotic use in animals contributes to the overall problem of antimicrobial resistance in humans.
	This programme is therefore investigating whether the administration of antibiotics to animals results in the selection of resistant bacteria that may be transferred to humans in food and cause infections that are difficult to treat. It is focused on bacteria found on farms and in slaughterhouses that can cause human disease, such as Salmonella, Escherischia coli and Campylobacter. It does not include isolates found in hospitals and the evidence does not indicate that food is a major source of resistant organisms in hospitals.
	This research will be evaluated as part of a full science review of the programme being arranged for late 2004.
	The Veterinary Medicines Directorate carries out extensive surveillance for residues of veterinary medicines (including antimicrobials) in meat and other animal products. Over the five years between 1998 and 2002 (the last year for which figures are available) nearly 60,000 red meat and poultry samples were analysed. Antimicrobial residues above the Ell's permitted Maximum Residues Levels were detected in less than 0.2 per cent. of these samples.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will carry out an assessment to determine whether perturbation in badger populations can be eliminated or substantially reduced by improved badger culling programme design and execution.

Ben Bradshaw: Research by the Central Science Laboratory and Oxford University suggests that culling operations may cause some spatial and demographic perturbation of badger populations. The amount of perturbation is a factor of the degree of culling, and the number of badgers surviving it. The more or, conversely, the less effective a badger culling programme is, the less the perturbation effect may be. Given the number of replicates that would be required at varying levels of culling efficiency and badger density, it would be difficult to design a study to quantify accurately the effects on the levels of perturbation that different culling programmes would have.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made with the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of appropriately skilled staff for carrying out badger culling operations.

Ben Bradshaw: Full staff complement in the Wildlife Unit (WLU) would have been achieved during December 2003, however due to the announcement on 4 November 2003 to suspend the reactive culling element of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT), three recruited staff were not offered posts.
	There are currently 21 occupied field staff posts that are no longer required for delivery of the remaining elements of the RBCT. At present, there is no proposal to make the surplus staff redundant.
	The pattern of staff turnover within the WLU is not considered excessive, and retention is not seen as a current issue. The surplus staff as indicated above provides a substantial buffer against possible future loss of expertise.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what natural factors restrain growth in badger populations when (a) the size of the population is less than the theoretical carrying capacity of the environment that it occupies and (b) there are opportunities for migration;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2004, Official Report, column 1559W, what regulatory mechanisms limit the size of wild badger population.

Ben Bradshaw: Badger population growth is constrained by reproductive output, mortality and migration. These factors will influence the population growth rate whether the population is below, at, or above the environmental carrying capacity. There is no reason to suspect that opportunities for migration will ever be absent but migration rates do appear to be generally low in badger populations. Reproductive output is probably limited by the number of reproducing sows per social group and the average litter size per sow. Both of these factors appear to be governed by nutrition. Mortality is also largely governed by nutrition, but is also influenced by stochastic events, such as dry summers. However, since all British badger populations studied reproduce well below their theoretical maximum, reproductive output is considered to be the major limiting factor to population growth.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what powers of entry wildlife officers have in order to gain access to badger setts for the purpose of trapping and destroying badgers.

Ben Bradshaw: Participation in the trial is voluntary in all the triplet areas. Defra Wildlife Unit staff have no powers of entry to carry out badger culling and are on land with the consent of land-owners.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which organisation is responsible for issuing licences for the killing of badgers under section 10 of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department's National Wildlife Management Team is responsible for issuing these licences.
	Contact details
	Wildlife Administration Unit
	Defra
	Burghill Road
	Westbury-on-Trym
	BRISTOL
	BS106NJ
	Telephone 0845 6014523 (local rate)
	Fax 0845 6013438 (local rate)
	E-mail enquiries.southwest@defra.gsi.gov.uk
	Web site: www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to what extent badger colonies approaching or exceeding the natural carrying capacity of their immediate environment rely on artificial food sources to sustain population levels.

Ben Bradshaw: Research conducted by the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) suggests that badgers are more likely to seek artificial food sources, such as cattle feed, on dry nights when earthworm availability is limited. Potentially, artificial food sources could decrease badger mortality during protracted periods of natural food shortage, thereby bolstering local numbers. Currently, however, there is no information on the extent to which the value of such foods may differ with respect to population size and carrying capacity. The importance of cattle feed in badger diets forms part of an ongoing Defra funded research project being carried out by CSL, which is due to report in December 2005.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the population (a) density and (b) incidence of TB in badgers is in (i) Scotland and (ii) England.

Ben Bradshaw: Population density varies widely on a regional scale throughout Scotland and England. In Scotland, large tracts of the uplands have no badgers, with local pockets of relatively high density. Overall, population density in Scotland is in the region of 0.2 badgers per km2. In England population density also varies in different areas, from very high (up to 30 badgers per km2) to low, with an average in the region of 1 to 2 badgers per km .
	The current incidence of TB in the national badger population is not known.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether perturbation in badger populations results in (a) increased contact between disparate social groups and (b) greater incidence of fighting between rival males, with more opportunities for infection spread through wounds.

Ben Bradshaw: Disruption of social groups is likely to lead to changes in the contact rates of badgers from different social groups. However, there is currently insufficient data to quantify such effects accurately. No analyses have been carried out on the extent of aggressive confrontations, and the potential for disease transmission via bite wounding, in relation to population perturbation.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the effect is of low body weight arising from food shortage on the disease resistance of individual badgers.

Ben Bradshaw: Poor nutrition has been linked to disease susceptibility in several studies of animal and human health. Currently, however, no data are available to link low body weight to disease resistance in badgers.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the role is of suppurating wounds in TB affected badgers in the spread of M. bovis to (a) other badgers and (b) cattle.

Ben Bradshaw: M. bovis has been isolated from bite wounds on badgers, although whether these resulted from transmission by biting or haematogenous spread following another portal of entry is still unclear. Infected bite wounds could be sources of infection for other badgers, particularly where mutual grooming occurs. Suppurating wounds are also a potential source of environmental contamination with infectious bacilli. This could pose a risk of infection to cattle if deposited on pasture, stored feed or in troughs.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what is meant by the term 'super-excretor' in respect of a badger infected by TB; and whether badgers so described exhibit atypical behavioural characteristics.

Ben Bradshaw: Badgers excreting M. bovis are potential sources of infection for other badgers, and cattle. The term 'super-excretor' is used for research purposes to identify a sub-group of infected badgers from which M. bovis has been isolated from several different clinical samples. These animals are thought to be in an advanced stage of disease progression, and survival analyses have shown that they exhibit a higher rate of mortality than uninfected animals. Research conducted by the Central Science Laboratory has identified behavioural differences between badgers excreting M. bovis and uninfected animals. Badgers excreting M. bovis had larger home ranges and were more likely to visit farm buildings.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the typical cost of obtaining market authorisation for an animal vaccine is; how long the authorisation process takes; whether the typical cost can be used as a basis for estimating the cost of a market authorisation for any animal TB vaccine developed; and whether it is possible to use vaccines without their undergoing the full market authorisation process.

Ben Bradshaw: Under European legislation marketing authorisations for veterinary medicinal products, including vaccines, may only be granted where scientific assessment of data supplied by the applicant demonstrates that the product meets statutory criteria of safety, quality and efficacy. The fee currently charged by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) for processing an application for a UK marketing authorisation is between £1,480 and £21,210, depending on the type of application and the complexity of the assessment required. The fee for a novel veterinary vaccine, such as a TB vaccine, is likely to be at the upper end of this range.
	European legislation requires applications for new marketing authorisations for veterinary medicinal products to be processed within 210 "clock" days of submission of a valid application. "Clock days" are calendar days, including weekends and holidays but excluding any period where further information is requested and awaited from the applicant. The time taken for applicants to respond to requests for further information is dependent upon a number of factors including the nature of the information requested and the priorities of the applicant. During such periods the authorisation procedure is frozen. Therefore, typically, the total time taken to determine an application for a marketing authorisation for a novel veterinary vaccine, such as a TB vaccine, could be approximately two years.
	European legislation permits provisional marketing authorisations to be granted, in exceptional, objective and verifiable circumstances, without the need for a full data dossier. Such authorisations are only granted where safety has been established and are subject to specific conditions, such as the carrying out of further studies for efficacy.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the regulatory processes which affect the size of wild deer populations are; and whether the Government intervene in the natural regulatory processes.

Ben Bradshaw: Deer are affected by the same 'regulatory processes' as other wildlife. The availability of key resources, particularly food, is the single most important determinant of population size. Management by man and incidental mortality (especially road traffic accidents) also play a role in influencing deer numbers.
	In England, the Government 'intervenes' in a number of different ways, but most importantly through setting the legal parameters for deer management. Forest Enterprise, the government agency responsible for managing the nation's forest estate, intervenes more directly and is actively involved in managing deer within its forests.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cats infected with bovine TB have been reported to her Department in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Suspect TB cases in cats reportedto Defra Number of suspect cases confirmed by isolation of M. bovis from clinical or pathological specimens at Veterinary Laboratories Agency 
		
		
			 2003 8 2 
			 2002 9 2 
			 2001 0 0 
			 2000 2 2 
			 1999 Not known Not known

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether cattle exhibit the same level of discrimination in respect of choice of food contaminated by badger faeces when feeding from cattle troughs as when grazing on grassland.

Ben Bradshaw: Work carried out by Bristol University found that cattle generally avoided pasture contaminated with badger faeces, but that high stocking densities resulted in more cattle feeding at contaminated sites. It is likely that cattle would exhibit a similar level of discrimination against food contaminated with faeces, whatever the means of provision, but may not be afforded this choice if food is limited. This may be the case where cattle set-stocking densities are too high at pasture, where cattle are grazed on grassland recently cut for silage or where contaminated feed is present within a feed trough.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in how many of the Krebs proactive and reactive trial areas there were areas of land within the trial areas, or abutting on them, where wildlife officers were refused entry for the purpose of trapping or destroying badgers.

Ben Bradshaw: All 20 proactive and reactive trial areas have within them areas of land where permission to cull has been withheld by the land-owner.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the optimum area in which badger control measures should be taken relative to a TB infected farm.

Ben Bradshaw: The Report of the Independent Scientific Review Group chaired by Sir John Krebs recommended the removal of all badgers from all social groups with territories including the breakdown farm (or reactor land). The Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG) advised on the practical implementation of this, and the reactive treatment of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial was implemented according to a Standard Operating Procedure ratified by the ISG.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether TB in badgers is a significant population regulatory factor.

Ben Bradshaw: Bovine TB does not appear to be a significant population regulatory factor in badgers in Britain. Research by the Central Science Laboratory identified that of 207 marked badgers found dead in the Woodchester Park study area between 1978 and 1993, 65 per cent. had died from road traffic accidents, 9 per cent. had been killed, 7 per cent. died from starvation, 11 per cent. died from unknown causes and 9 per cent. died from TB. Since badger populations in Britain breed at significantly below their maximum potential, even the proportion of total mortality attributable to road traffic accidents is unlikely to affect population regulation.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether material contaminated with the M.bovis bacilli deposited on silage by badgers and used for the feeding of cattle is considered to present a significant risk of infection to cattle.

Ben Bradshaw: There is little evidence to support the hypothesis that silage contaminated with material containing "Mycobacterium bovis" derived from badgers represents a significant risk of infection to cattle. However, "M. bovis" may survive outside the body for varying lengths of time and, so, there is a theoretical risk from this source.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether the current and proposed TB testing regimes in low risk areas are sufficient to ensure that new foci of infection do not develop which would pose a risk of spread to wildlife.

Ben Bradshaw: The proposed testing regime meets or exceeds the requirements of the EC Directive 64/432/EEC. But neither this nor the current regime can guarantee that new foci of infection do not occur.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her best estimate is of the incidence of TB in cattle arising from (a) cattle-to-cattle spread and (b) the spread from a wildlife reservoir.

Ben Bradshaw: Current, continuing, research is designed to inform the Government on the relative importance of cattle and badgers as vectors of the disease. At present it is not possible to give a valid estimate for either.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the latest advice issued by her Department is concerning cattle biosecurity measures.

Ben Bradshaw: In 2001, Defra published "Golden Rules for a Healthy Herd". This guidance sets out the most important rules for minimising the risk of introducing diseases onto farms. It applies to those purchasing and selling cattle.
	In 2002, Defra developed a concise biosecurity guidance poster with a number of livestock farming and veterinary organisations. "Better Biosecurity Provides . . . " was sent to every livestock farm in England and is available on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/biosecurity/farmguidance/biosecleaf.pdf

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the likely incidence of TB in the badger population in 2007.

Ben Bradshaw: The current incidence of TB in the national badger population is not known, so it is not possible to predict the incidence for future years.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how long after exposure to an infective dose of M. bovis bacilli a bovine animal becomes infectious; and what the typical duration of infectivity is.

Ben Bradshaw: Published figures for the time from exposure to being infectious include 87 to 226 days after natural exposure in a United Kingdom study and up to seven years in an Australian study. The typical duration of infectivity is not known.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reasons have been adduced for the relatively low density of badgers in the eastern counties of England.

Ben Bradshaw: The relatively low densities of badgers in eastern counties (excluding the south-east) compared to western counties is thought in part to reflect the east-west divide in the rural landscape. The predominantly pastoral west is thought to provide more preferred habitat for badgers than the arable east of the country.
	However, this does not entirely explain the differences. In East Anglia badger densities are lower than would be expected based on landscape alone 1 , and it is concluded that in these areas the low densities are the consequence of past 'persecution' of badgers, from which badgers have yet to recover 2 .
	1 Heydon, M.J., Reynolds, J.C. and Short, M.J. (2000) Variation in abundance of foxes (Vulpes vulpes) between three contrasting regions of Rural Britain, in relation to landscape and other variables. "Journal of Zoology", 251, 253–264.
	2 Reason, P., Harris, S. and Cresswell, P. (1993) Estimating the impact of past persecution and habitat changes on the numbers of badgers Meles meles in Britain. Mammal Review. 23: 1–15.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to what extent different (a) age groups and (b) sexes of badgers are more likely to be trapped than others.

Ben Bradshaw: Research carried out by Oxford University and the Department's Central Science Laboratories suggested that the likelihood of badger capture using cage traps did not vary between the sexes but did vary significantly between adults and cubs. However, the direction of this age effect was not consistent between different study areas suggesting that other local factors were also important.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether there have been any significant differences between the pattern of TB lesions observed in badgers subject to post-mortem examination pre-2000 and those examined during and after 2000.

Ben Bradshaw: Information about lesion distribution in badgers since the start of the randomised badger culling trial has not been available to Defra officials for analysis. This information is held on behalf of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the ideal geological conditions are for a badger habitat; and whether there are conditions which (a) prevent and (b) deter colonisation by badgers.

Ben Bradshaw: Badgers can exist in a wide variety of habitat types. They typically locate setts in sandy or chalky, well drained soil that is easy to excavate. Setts are also usually located on hillsides or otherwise sloping ground where drainage is good, and excavated soil is easy to clear from the sett entrance. However, badgers are also known to dig setts into flat ground where such optimal conditions are not available. Badgers are much less likely to dig setts in clay soil types that are less well drained and less easily dug. Given that setts are an important resource for badgers, it has been argued that the availability of suitable sett sites has a direct effect on the density of setts, and hence social group density.
	For further information, see:
	T. J. Roper (1993) Badger setts as a limiting resource. In: "The badger" (ed. T. J. Hayden) Royal Irish Academy, Dublin.
	E. G. Neal and C. L. Cheeseman (1996) "Badgers".
	Clements, E. D., Neal, E. G. and Yalden, D. W. (1988) The national badger sett survey. "Mammal Review", 18, 1–9.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research has been conducted by her Department to determine whether badgers infected with M. bovis are capable of transmitting infection to cattle.

Ben Bradshaw: Apart from the study by the Central Science Laboratory at Woodchester Park in which infected badgers have been identified as excreting M. bovis in faeces, urine, tracheal aspirates and suppurating skin lesions, there has been a study in which naturally infected badgers were housed with uninfected calves. Several of the calves developed sensitivity to the tuberculin skin test and were found to have TB lesions when subject to post mortem examination.

Badgers/Bovine TB

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many carcasses of red deer have been examined by the State Veterinary Service in the last 10 years at the Baronsdown deer sanctuary; and how many were found to be infected with bovine tuberculosis.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra does not provide disease statistics on individual premises, but does so on a parish basis.
	Since 1998 there have been nine confirmed cases of "M. bovis" in red deer in the parish of Dulverton, which includes Baronsdown.
	Defra does not have data on the number of carcases of red deer examined by the State Veterinary Service in Dulverton prior to 1998.

Badgers/Bovine TB

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of (a) whether deer populations on the Baronsdown deer sanctuary are sustainable and (b) whether the deer are infected with bovine tuberculosis.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is as follows:
	(a) The management of deer at the Baronsdown deer sanctuary should be addressed to the League Against Cruel Sports, as the management of wildlife on private land is primarily a matter for the relevant landowner and not the Government.
	(b) Defra does not provide disease statistics on individual holdings. The deer on the Baronsdown sanctuary are wild and free to move.
	The parish of Dulverton includes Baronsdown and other holdings. Since 1998 there have been nine confirmed cases of "M. bovis" in red deer in the parish of Dulverton.

Cattle Movements

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the purpose is of the six-day rule for auction marts; what representations she has received on lifting the six-day rule of auction marts; if she will lift the six-day rule of auction marts; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Livestock moving to auction markets does not trigger a six day standstill on arrival at a market. But in order to balance the significant disease risk that results from animals from different sources mixing at a market, animals are only permitted to move to a market if the farm from which they originate is not under a standstill (20 days for pigs or six days for other species).
	This rule is waived where the market is a dedicated slaughter market. In this case the livestock must go from the market direct to slaughter. The disease risk is accordingly less than if the stock were dispersed to other farms.
	The standstill that applies to farm premises is based on a scientific Cost Benefit Analysis of the disease risks associated with various standstill lengths. I do not propose to amend the standstill regime, which represents the best available balance between minimising disease risk and the needs of the farming community to trade livestock.
	I have received no representations from livestock farmers or market operators on lifting the requirement for livestock to observe a standstill before they move to auction markets.

Cetacean By-catch

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding her Department has (a) allocated and (b) spent on scientific research into preventing cetacean strandings in UK waters in each of the past five years for which records are available.

Ben Bradshaw: Figures for scientific research allocated and spent by Defra, in each of the past five (financial) years, on mitigating cetacean bycatch are;
	2003–04—£173,232
	2002–03—£220,582
	2001–02—£171,912
	2000–01—£155,308
	1999–2000—£93,510

Computer Production (Environmental Effects)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on discussions between her Department and the Department of Trade and Industry on (a) effects on the environment of future computer production and (b) who should pay the costs of environmental effects.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 16 March 2004
	Defra work closely with the DTI, who lead on the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), and the Restriction of the use of Certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS) Directives. These Directives are producer responsibility Directives, and aim to reduce the environmental impact of all electronic equipment, including computers. The environmental impact is reduced by restricting the use of hazardous substances during manufacture; and through reprocessing WEEE, so that materials can be returned to the economic cycle and avoid being landfilled. The WEEE Directive also aims to assign financial responsibility, for the collection, treatment and recycling of WEEE, to producers and business users, when a computer reaches its end of its life.
	In addition, both Defra and DTI are currently negotiating two other Directives that will have a positive effect on the environmental impact of computers. Batteries are a significant component of laptop computers, and the proposed Batteries Directive will make producers of batteries responsible for their collection and recycling.
	Similarly the proposed Eco design for Energy using Products (EuP) Directive will ensure that producers take responsibility for the whole life cycle of their products, from the initial design stage, right through to end of life and disposal. Defra, via the Market Transformation Programme, has also been working with the DTI, among others, to seek to reduce the energy consumption of IT equipment in use. Current measures include the EU Energy Star Regulation and the Government Quick wins initiative which specifies minimum standards for government procurement of IT equipment.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  when she will reply to the letter to her from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, dated 5 February 2004 with regard to Ms C.Holden;
	(2)  when she will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton dated 5 February, with regard to Ms C.Holden.

Alun Michael: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State responded on 16 March.

Cotswolds Canals

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the re-opening of the Cotswolds canals; and what discussions she has had with the Heritage Lottery Board with regard to the bid that has been submitted.

Alun Michael: The Government wishes to encourage restoration projects to expand the canal network, which has clear economic, environmental and social benefits. It is for the Heritage Lottery Board to assess and decide on the funding application to support the restoration of the Cotswold Canals but we look forward to the outcome of the Board's major grant meeting in July.

Deer Sanctuaries

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will introduce an active management plan on deer sanctuaries in co-operation with neighbouring land managers.

Ben Bradshaw: The management of wildlife on privately owned land is primarily the responsibility of the relevant landowner, and it has not been the policy of this or previous governments to become actively involved unless the landowner is the recipient of funds from the public purse or if the landowner is in breach of his / her legal obligations.
	As the larger deer species range widely we encourage neighbouring landowners to co-operate in managing deer if agricultural damage or other problems arise. Advice on deer and guidance on preparing management plans are available from the Deer Initiative (Tel: 0870 774 3677; e-mail: info@thedeerinitiative.co.uk; www. thedeerinitiative.co.uk).

Energy Efficiency

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her current targets are for domestic energy efficiency improvements.

Elliot Morley: The Energy White Paper issued in February 2003 made clear that more than half the emissions reductions in the UK Climate Change Programme—around 10 million tonnes of carbon per year by 2010—are expected to come from energy efficiency, with household energy efficiency accounting for around half of these. Beyond 2010, the Government believes that energy efficiency can contribute around half the additional 15–25 million tonnes of carbon we are likely to need by 2020, of which 4–6 million tonnes might be accounted for by the household sector.
	An aim for energy efficiency in residential accommodation in England, as required by the Sustainable Energy Act 2003, is likely to be set out in the Government's Energy Efficiency Implementation Plan, to be published after Easter.

Farming

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on farm income levels for farmers in Crosby in the past five years.

Alun Michael: Due to the small number of farms in Crosby, there is no robust data available on farm incomes for farmers in Crosby over the last five years.

Farming

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the 20 largest payments made under the (a) Arable Area Payments Scheme, (b) Beef Special Premium Scheme, (c) Suckler Cow Premium Scheme, (d) Sheep Annual Premium Scheme, (e) Hill Farm Allowance Scheme, (f) Slaughter Premium Scheme, (g) Integrated Administration and Control System, (h) Dairy Premium Scheme, (i) Dairy Additional Payments Scheme and (j) Extensification Payment Scheme were in the most recent EU budget year for which figures are available.

Alun Michael: The figures in the following table represent the total of the 20 largest payments made under the listed schemes. These are based on the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) Year which runs from 16 October 2002 to 15 October 2003.
	
		
			 Scheme Value (£) 
		
		
			 Arable Area Payments 10,067,954.47 
			 Beef Special Premium 819,631.12 
			 Suckler Cow Premium 1,721,515.19 
			 Sheep Annual Premium 1,438,796.95 
			 Hill Farming Allowance 310,191.42 
			 Slaughter Premium 600,375.50 
			 Extensification Payment 915,768.43 
		
	
	Figures have not been provided for (g) Integrated Administration and Control System as this is an umbrella scheme which encompasses the individual schemes listed in the table; (h) Dairy Premium Scheme and (i) Dairy Additional Payments Scheme which are new schemes being introduced with effect from 2004.
	The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is bound by commercial confidentiality in its dealings with its customers, whether sole traders or farmers or corporations, breach of which by disclosing information relating to the affairs of individual traders or farmers or corporations would expose the RPA to the liability of legal proceedings in tort.
	In relation to individual farmers or traders, information which is of a personal nature, such as individual payments to such persons, is personal data which is protected from voluntary disclosure under the Data Protection Act 1998. While the RPA can release global figures relating to payments, which do not identify individual persons, including corporations, it is unable to release individual figures without incurring the liabilities under the two principles.pa

Fisheries

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the maximum amounts of fish allowed to be caught daily in Welsh waters were in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: There are no specific limits as to the amount of fish that can be taken in Welsh waters. For certain stocks total allowable catches are fixed annually by the EU but in relation to sea areas as defined by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas. These areas do not correspond with Welsh or other territorial waters.

Fisheries

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fisheries have been closed to protect stocks since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: Since 1997 restrictions have been introduced in the following areas to close fisheries to protect stocks:
	
		
			 Fisheries  
		
		
			 Irish Sea Area closed each spring since 2000, through EU measures, to targeted fishing for cod in Spring as part of Irish Sea Cod Recovery Plan to protect spawning cod 
			 North Sea Area closed, through EU measures, to targeted fishing for cod in Spring 2001 as part of the North Sea Cod Recovery Plan to protect spawning cod 
			 Nursery Areas for bass 3 further areas in estuaries and around the coast of England and Wales closed, by the UK Government, to bass fishing to protect juveniles 
			 Clyde estuary Area closed, by the Scottish Executive, each spring since 2001 to demersal trawls to protect spawning cod. 
		
	
	There are also longer standing fisheries closures such as the Mackerel, Pout and Herring boxes.
	Legislation has also been introduced to restrict fishing in a number of areas for the protection of the wider marine environment:
	
		
			 Fisheries  
		
		
			 Darwin Mounds A ban on bottom trawling introduced by the EU in 2003 at the UK's request to protect cold water coral 
			 Lundy Island A total fishing ban introduced by Devon Sea Fisheries Committee in 2003 to protect the Lundy Marine Nature Reserve 
			 Sandeel Box Area (the Wee Bankie) off the North-east coast of the UK where industrial fishing has been banned since 2000 by the EU to protect the food species of a range of predators including sea-birds 
			 The Wash A ban introduced by UK Government in 1998 on dredging for razor shells, trough shells and carpet shells to protect the Wash and North Norfolk candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) 
			 Fal and Helford Estuaries A ban introduced by UK Government in 2003 on dredging for scallops to protect the Fal and Helford cSAC

Fisheries

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the tonnage of fish caught in UK territorial waters by fishing vessels registered in each EU member country was during the latest period for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The arrangements for access to the coastal waters of the United Kingdom between 6 and 12 nautical miles are set out in Article 17 and Annex I of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy. Data on catches and landings made by UK vessels and vessels from other Member States is collected in relation to sea areas as defined by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas: this data includes, but does not separately identify, the quantities of fish taken from the United Kingdom's coastal waters.

Fisheries

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the (a) operations and (b) efficiency of claimants' associations in respect of loss of fisheries in the fishing industry.

Ben Bradshaw: This is not a matter I can comment on. It is up to individual associations to negotiate compensation for the possible loss of fisheries.

Fisheries

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice and assistance on (a) financial and (b) legal issues is available to fishermen who wish to explore compensation opportunities for loss of fisheries.

Ben Bradshaw: As one of the statutory regulators of marine works under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985, the Department takes account, among other things, the extent to which any proposed project is likely to affect the legitimate interests of other uses of the sea.
	However, the Department does not offer advice or assistance on legal and financial issues with regard to seeking compensation from a licence applicant for any loss of fisheries.

Fisheries

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fishing vessels were licensed in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: Information is not readily available for 1997 but details on the number of vessels licensed by the UK Fisheries Departments since 1998 are given in the following table.
	
		
			 Vessel overall length 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Under 10 metres 5,041 5,053 4,925 4,810 4,805 4,699 4,738 
			 Over 10 metres 2,320 2,149 2,034 1,958 1,912 1,691 1,570 
			 Total 7,361 7,202 6,959 6,768 6,717 6,390 6,308

Foot and Mouth Disease

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department withheld any evidence on the origins of the 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak from Dr. Iain Anderson's inquiry.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 15 March 2004
	A full report on the origins of the outbreak was submitted to Iain Anderson's inquiry and is published alongside the inquiry report. That was based on wide-ranging evidence including rigorous epidemiological investigation.

Foot and Mouth Disease

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether evidence prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's vet Mr. J. Dring in respect of her inspection of Burnside Farm, Northumberland during early February 2001 was presented to Dr. Iain Anderson to assist him with his inquiry into the cause of the foot and mouth disease outbreak.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 15 March 2004
	Mr. Dring contributed to the epidemiological investigation underpinning the Department's official submission to the Inquiry on the origins of the outbreak. His inspection of Burnside Farm on 24 January 2001 was also discussed at a meeting in Newcastle with lain Anderson on 4 March 2002. Both the submission and the report of the meeting were published alongside lain Anderson's final report of his Inquiry.

Gamma Interferon Test

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of why the gamma interferon test achieves sensitivity of 60 to 65 per cent. in UK trials;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the difference in gamma interferon test sensitivity in UK trials compared with test sensitivity in Australia.

Ben Bradshaw: The gamma-interferon pilot currently running in Wales, Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire, and the work carried out in Northern Ireland, have not been designed to assess the sensitivity of the gamma-interferon test. No comparisons can therefore be drawn with test sensitivity in trials run in other countries.

GM Crops

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she was informed that cattle feeding studies involving Chardon LL fodder maize had been requested by the (a) Advisory Committee on Releases into the Environment and (b) Advisory Committee on Animal Feedstuffs.

Elliot Morley: Neither the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment nor the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs (ACAF) has requested cattle feeding studies involving Chardon LL fodder maize. ACAF has advised, on the basis of the data already submitted, that it is content that the T25 maize grain and its products pose no more risk as animal feed than non-GM maize varieties. The results of recent feeding trials to cattle have not yet been published or peer reviewed but I am not aware they have come to any different conclusion.

GM Crops

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether she has given consent for harvested Chardon LL fodder maize from farm-scale evaluation sites to be taken-off site and used in cattle-feeding studies at the Reading University Centre for Dairy Research;
	(2)  whether the Government's policy on harvested material from GM crops involved in the farm-scale evaluation programme being fed to animals or otherwise entering the food chain has changed;
	(3)  what steps she has taken to ensure that no milk or meat from the cattle involved in the Chardon LL feeding studies at Reading University has entered the food chain.

Elliot Morley: The GM maize used in the farm scale evaluations has Europe wide marketing consent for use in animal feed so no consent was required to use the harvested crop in the cattle feeding study carried out at the University of Reading.
	The agreement made with the Supply Chain Initiative on Modified Agricultural Crops (SCIMAC) in November 1999 requires that none of the produce from GM crop plantings in the UK will be used in a way which is of direct commercial benefit to the consent-holders during the farm scale evaluation period. The policy on use of harvested material, as outlined in the SCIMAC agreement, has not changed.
	Although there is no legal requirement to withhold the milk or meat from the food chain and there is no discernable difference between meat and milk from animals fed GM feed and those not, the protocol for the Reading University study required that the milk from the dairy cows did not enter the food chain during the period of the study.

GM Crops

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she was first informed that cattle feeding studies involving Chardon LL fodder maize had been requested by (a) the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment and (b) the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs.

Elliot Morley: Neither the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment nor the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs (ACAF) has requested cattle feeding studies involving Chardon LL fodder maize. ACAF has advised, on the basis of the data already submitted, that it is content that the T25 maize grain and its products pose no more risk as animal feed than non-GM maize varieties. The results of recent feeding trials to cattle have not yet been published or peer reviewed but I am not aware they have come to any different conclusion.

GM Crops

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make public the locations proposed in applications to grow Chardon LL T25 maize.

Elliot Morley: We will consider whether the locations of commercial GM crop sites should be made public when we consult stakeholders in due course on the co-existence issue.

GM Crops

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will establish who paid for the research on the GM farm scale evaluations undertaken by members of the Scientific Steering Committee and published by Nature on 5 March.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 15 March 2004
	The research published in the Nature paper "Ban on triazine herbicides likely to reduce but not negate relative benefits of GMHT maize cropping" (Nature AOP; published online 4 March 2004) was undertaken by the authors at the expense of their respective institutes (listed on the paper). Defra and Scottish Executive paid for the data collected in the farm-scale evaluations, on which the paper was based, but did not commission this work. None of the authors were members of the Scientific Steering Committee. The research was peer reviewed by scientists not involved in the FSEs.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her statement of 9 March 2004, Official Report, columns 1381–84, on GM policy, 
	(1)  what new evidence applicants for the recently approved GM fodder maize need to provide before the renewal of the contract to grow this crop before October 2006;
	(2)  what new evidence is required by consent holders prior to the renewal of their consents in October 2006 that is not required now.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 15 March 2004
	Existing consents for genetically modified organisms issued under Part C of Directive 90/220, including that for GM maize T25 issued in 1998, continue in force until October 2006. At that time new consents must be obtained or the product withdrawn. Directive 2001/18/EC and EC Food and Feed Regulations 1829/2003 set out the required information and assessments to be provided by the applicants. Information provided to support the original 90/220 application must be updated to account for technical progress and relevant new information. The applicants must also provide an environmental risk assessment as set out in Annex II of the new directive. In the case of GM crops this must include an assessment of the GMO and its use which have the potential to cause adverse effects as compared with those presented by the non-modified crop and its use under corresponding situations, such as weed management with herbicides. Applicants must also provide a post market monitoring plan and information on methods for detection and identification to facilitate post marketing control and inspection.

GM Crops

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the preliminary results of research carried out by Professor Terje Traavik of the Norwegian Institute of Gene Ecology on the health implications of GM maize crops for those living close to the crops.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 16 March 2004
	We understand that at a recent meeting in Malaysia, Professor Terje Traavik reported that farm workers from the island of Mindanao in the Phillipines had an immune reaction to genetically modified Bt maize (event MON 810). No scientific evidence has yet been published by the Norwegian research team on the health implications of Bt maize crops for those living close to such crops and Professor Traavik is quoted as stressing that more tests are needed before any definite conclusion can be drawn.
	Bt maize is not grown in the UK. If Professor Traavik's work is published we will consider whether there are any implications for the UK.

GM Crops

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her oral statement of 9 March, Official Report, columns 1381 to 1396 on GM crops, if she will assess the work of Aaron de Grassi at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, on GM crops in Africa.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 16 March 2004
	We are aware of the work published by Aaron de Grassi evaluating various projects involving the development of GM crops for cultivation in Africa. While we have no plans to assess his work, we are always interested in quality research on GM crops and their application.

GM Crops

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish her Department's assessment of the section of the GM national consultation concerned with the practicality of co-existence between GM and non-GM crops.

Elliot Morley: A detailed response to the findings of the GM Dialogue is available at www.defra.qov.uk/environment/gm/debate/pdf/gmdialogue-response.pdf. We believe there is no reason in principle why GM and non-GM crops should not co-exist, and our recent policy statement confirmed how we intend to move forward on this subject. We will consult stakeholders on co-existence measures based on the 0.9 per cent. EU labelling threshold for GM presence, and on whether a lower threshold might apply for organic production.

GM Crops

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will conduct investigations into the feasibility of GM free zones being established in areas in Wales and Scotland bordering England where English farmers cultivating border farms decide to grow GM crops.

Elliot Morley: Under EU law it is not possible to establish compulsory or statutory GM-free zones, but we have said that we will provide guidance to farmers who may want to establish voluntary zones in which GM crops are not cultivated. English farmers on the border with Wales and Scotland will have the right to grow an approved GM crop subject to the co-existence measures that are put in place, so the scope for voluntary GM-free zones in areas bordering England will have to be considered in that light. We will be liaising closely with the Devolved Administrations on these issues.

GM Crops

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a further statement on (a) her plans to introduce legislation in respect of GM crop liability and co-existence and (b) the timescale for those plans.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 18 March 2004
	We intend to have co-existence measures that have statutory backing in place before any commercial cultivation of GM crops, which we do not expect before spring 2005 at the earliest. We plan to consult stakeholders on this shortly, and on options for compensating non-GM farmers for financial losses that they may incur.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her statement of 9 March 2004, Official Report, columns 1381–84, on GM policy, who will determine the conditions required to achieve the first condition of not resulting in adverse effects on the environment; and when those conditions will be made public.

Elliot Morley: On 9 March officials wrote to the French Competent Authority, which issued the relevant consents on behalf of the EU member states, and proposed that restrictions be placed on the existing marketing consents for cultivation of maize containing transformation events T25 and BT176. In accordance with Directive 2001/18 the French Competent Authority will now forward an assessment report to the Commission who will forward it to all the other member states. A collective EU decision will be made on the proposal for amending the conditions of the consent.
	A copy of the letter to the French Competent Authority will be published on the Defra website and placed on the public register.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her statement of 9 March 2004, Official Report, columns 1381–84, on GM policy, when decisions will be made on thresholds for GM contamination of organic farms; and who will make the decision.

Elliot Morley: We will take decisions in liaison with the Devolved Administrations, after we have consulted stakeholders. We will initiate a consultation exercise as soon as possible.

Illegal Meat Imports

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the progress of the Government's action plan on illegal imports of meat, other animal products, plants and plant products.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 15 March 2004
	Progress against the Government's Action Plan on illegal imports in the financial year 2002–03 is reported in the Annual Review of Controls on Imports of Animal Products. Copies have been placed in the House Libraries.
	The 2003–04 Action Plan is appended to the Review, and we are working with HM Customs and other responsible parties to implement it. HM Customs took over responsibility for anti-smuggling controls at the border on 11 April this year. Progress will be reported in the next Annual Review, to be published after the end of this financial year.

Lamb and Beef Farming (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much money her Department makes available to promote Lancashire (a) lamb and (b) beef farming.

Alun Michael: Lancashire beef and lamb producers are eligible to receive subsidies under the Common Agricultural Policy Beef and Sheep meat Regimes (there are currently no schemes specifically for lambs). The table below shows the amount under these schemes that was paid to farmers in Lancashire in the 2003 European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund Year (15 October 2002 to 16 October 2003).
	Any additional direct subsidy intervention by UK Government in favour of specific geographical regions is prohibited by State Aids and competition rules.
	
		£000
		
			  Payments 
		
		
			 Sheep(2) 6,494,223.40 
			 Beef(3) 18,110,610.02 
			 Total 24,604,833.42 
		
	
	(2) Sheep Annual Premium Scheme.
	(3) Beef Farming includes the following schemes:
	Beef Special Premium
	Extensification Payment
	Slaughter Premium
	Suckler Cow Premium
	Over Thirty Month Compensation Payments

Nappies

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Department of Health regarding the (a) environmental and (b) financial effects of using cotton nappies in maternity wards.

Elliot Morley: I attended a meeting with the Minister for Health, and the Women's Environmental Network (WEN) in July last year to discuss the issues surrounding the use of re-usable nappies in hospitals.
	WEN will be publishing a report on 29 March considering the issues raised at the meeting, a copy of which will be sent to me.

Nappies

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the Strategy Unit's report regarding the impact of initiatives to displace disposable nappy use on waste minimisation; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The aim of the measure on re-usable nappies outlined in the Strategy Unit report 'Waste Not Want Not' was to achieve an average diversion of 225kg a year per participating household.
	The Waste and Resources Action Programme, which is taking forward this work on the Government's behalf, is aiming to have an additional 155,000 households using re-usable nappies by the end of fiscal year 2006.
	This is an ambitious target. If achieved it would create a reduction in household waste of 35,000 tonnes.

Nappies

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what initiatives her Department is taking to reduce landfill waste by encouraging alternatives to disposable nappies.

Elliot Morley: Following publication of the Strategy Unit Report the Government accepted the recommendation that the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) should take forward a waste minimisation initiative, which includes work on supporting re-usable nappies.
	The details of the programme are still being worked up but include support for new businesses and the provision of information to parents.

Nuclear Materials

Jack Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tonnes of material the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority proposes to transfer from Dounreay to Drigg; what the composition of the material is; what method of transport will be used; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 18 March 2004
	The application by UKAEA to transfer LLW to Drigg has been made to SEPA, whose responsibility it is to determine the application under the provisions of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993, subject to the powers of Scottish Ministers. As such it is a matter for SEPA and the Scottish Ministers.
	I understand that SEPA has published the application and associated documentation on its website for public consultation, which closed on 23 February 2004. These can be viewed at: http://www.sepa.org.uk/consultation/ukaea/index.htm.
	Given that Drigg is operated as a United Kingdom facility and that its existing authorisation is sufficient to cover the proposed transfer, it is not necessary for the Secretary of State to be involved in determining UKAEA's current application.

Pesticides

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of people whose health has been affected in the last five years by being exposed in the open air to pesticides; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Complaints alleging ill health effects resulting from exposure to pesticides are routinely investigated by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Inspectors. HSE's Pesticides Incidents Appraisal Panel (PIAP) considers the reports of investigations, with the aim of providing an overview of ill health attributed to pesticide exposure so that new issues and trends can be identified, and to inform the pesticides approval process.
	HSE publishes an annual Pesticide Incidents Report, which contains information on investigated incidents and enforcement action, looks at statistical trends over a ten year period, and summarises the work of PIAP. Copies of the latest Report for 2002/3 have been placed in the House Library.

Plant Diversity

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her plans to implement the proposals contained in Plant Diversity Challenge: the UK's response to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 12 March 2004
	There is already a great deal of action going on which will help us to progress many of these proposals. These include activities under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and the specific action plans for the conservation of 45 habitats and 391 species, many of which are plants. In addition, a range of biodiversity and sustainable development measures will assist us in progressing the Plant Conservation Strategy, including our extensive network of protected sites, the development of agri-environment schemes in the UK, and the Millennium Seed Bank at Kew.

Printer Cartridges

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether ink cartridges will be included under the guidelines of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The controls of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive apply to whole electrical and electronic products, and not consumables such as inkjet printer cartridges.

Sewer Baiting

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will issue guidance to local authorities on courses of action available to them where sewerage undertakers are unwilling to be involved in joint work on sewer baiting.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 17 March 2004
	A joint protocol, published in 1999 by the Local Government Association and Water UK, contained arrangements for closer working relationships between water companies and local authorities in respect of rodent infestations in sewers.
	I am not aware of any representations from Local Authorities needing further guidance.

Sugar Regime

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has made to the European (a) Agriculture and (b) Trade Commissioner on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy sugar regime; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made clear in the Agriculture Council and in other contacts with the Commission that she is anxious for early progress on reforming a regime that has remained substantially unaltered for over 35 years, despite the fundamental changes achieved elsewhere in the Common Agricultural Policy. The Government are still considering which of the specific options put forward by the Commission represents the best way ahead, taking account of the range of interests involved, including the implications for developing countries.

Sugar Regime

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which of the options for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy sugar regime set out in the European Commission's working paper, Reforming the European Union's Sugar Policy, is preferred by her Department.

Alun Michael: The Government have already made clear that it shares the European Commission's view that Option 1, involving extension of the present regime beyond 2006, is not sustainable. We have also said that we are looking for a market based approach in line with the major CAP reforms achieved in June 2003 across most other sectors.
	Sugar reform raises a complex set of issues, including implications for developing countries, and we are still considering the best way ahead, taking account of the views received in our consultation exercise which closed on 16 January and which we are still assessing.

US Ships

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by when she expects the seasonal weather to be appropriate to allow the return of the four ghost ships from Hartlepool to the United States.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 5 March 2004
	Clearly it is difficult to predict when the weather will be appropriate to allow for the possible return of the ships, but it is expected that the weather window could open in May. Before any such journey could be made, the vessels would need to be inspected, surveyed and appropriately certified for seaworthiness.

Wildlife Habitats

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information she has on the variables which affect the carrying capacity of a habitat in respect of its ability to support a particular wildlife species.

Ben Bradshaw: Competition between individuals within a species (intraspecific competition) limits the maximum number of individuals that can be supported by an environment (the environmental carrying capacity). This is influenced by the quantity of resources that are under competition. These may include food resources, nesting sites and mates.
	Further information on this topic may be obtained from any elementary ecology text book, such as Begon, M., Harper, J. L. & Townsend, C. R. (1996) Ecology. 3rd Edition. Blackwell Science, Oxford.

CABINET OFFICE

Departmental Communications

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what the total expenditure on communications for the Office has been in 2003–04, broken down by expenditure on (a) Government Information and Communication Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) others;
	(2)  how many staff are employed in the Office to work in the communications field, broken down by (a) Government Information and Communication Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) others.

Douglas Alexander: Communication is embedded in Government policy development and delivery and not simply an end function of departmental press officers.
	Within the Cabinet Office there are two specific units who deal with communications and are largely staffed by GICS members—the Communications Group (CG) and the GICS Centre.
	CG provides advice and services on press and media relations, the internet and other electronic communication; internal communication; marketing and publications; and editorial. CG currently employs 41 staff, 7.5 of whom work in the press office supporting five Ministers. CG budget for this year is £3,615,100. This breaks down to £1,736,746 staff, £917,554 running costs and £960,800 departmental communication activity.
	The GICS Centre is responsible for cross-departmental and emergency communications and activity including the Government News Network (GNN) , and the News Co-ordination Unit (NCC) and the Media Monitoring Unit (MMU). It is also responsible for GICS corporate and HR policy matters. The budget for the GICS centre for 2003–04 was £2.458 million. The GICS Centre currently has 170 staff of whom 130 are part of the GNN, which has offices in London and also regionally across the UK. The GNN operates on a repayment basis charging Departments for the services it provides.
	Communications staff across Whitehall on short-term secondment operate the NCC on an ad hoc basis when it is activated. The MMU currently has 15 full time staff. The MMU is self-financing operating on a subscription charge to the Government Departments that it serves.
	There is one special adviser appointed to the Minister without Portfolio (MWP). The special adviser does not work as part of the Cabinet Office CG but may in the course of his duties as set out in the Special Adviser's Code of Conduct, advice the MWP on communications issues.

Official Opposition (Officials)

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many officials, and of what grade, are allocated to the Official Opposition; how they were selected; where they are based; and what the total cost is.

Douglas Alexander: Four civil servants—one HEO equivalent, one EO and two administrative officers—are allocated to the Official Opposition Whips Office in the House of Commons. All were appointed following Cabinet Office recruitment and selection procedures. The total cost in the current financial year will be approximately £128,000.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

National Lottery

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications for Lottery money have been made since the introduction of the online facility; and how many of these were made online.

Estelle Morris: This Department does not collect comprehensive information on the number of applications for Lottery grants made to the distributing bodies. I will write to the hon. Member with details of the number of applications made online once these have been ascertained.

New Opportunities Fund

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money from the New Opportunities Fund was allocated to (a) the West Suffolk constituency and (b) the county of Suffolk, in each year since its inception.

Estelle Morris: In each financial year, the New Opportunities Fund allocated to:
	
		West Suffolk constituency
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1999–2000 88,848 
			 2000–01 149,362 
			 2001–02 25,703 
			 2002–03 76,398 
			 2003 to current date 326,378 
			 Total 666,689 
		
	
	
		County of Suffolk
		
			  £ 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1999–2000 2,921,208 
			 2000–01 1,828,195 
			 2001–02 4,250,369 
			 2002–03 3,271,150 
			 2003 to current date 2,255,738 
			 Total 14,526,660 
		
	
	These numbers are derived from the Department's database of Lottery awards, which is based on information supplied by New Opportunities Fund (and the other distributing bodies).

Police Transfers

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the transfer arrangements for the pensions of officers in the Royal Parks Constabulary when they join the Metropolitan Police will ensure that no officer receives a lower level of (a) pension and (b) lump sum than they would have received had they remained in the RPC under the current arrangements until retirement age.

Richard Caborn: Officers in the Royal Parks Constabulary are covered by the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme; officers in the Metropolitan Police Service are covered by the Police Pension Scheme. While the PCSPS provides a pension and lump sum payment on retirement, the PPS provides a pension at retirement with an option to commute up to a quarter for a lump sum. How much pension and lump sum officers in the PPS receive therefore depends on their own decisions. The Government Actuary's Department has confirmed that the PPS is generally more valuable for members than the PCSPS. Officers in the RPC will have the option of transferring their accrued pension rights from the PCSPS on special terms so that they will have a package of benefits which is overall at least as valuable as that they would have received from the RPC.

Television Signal

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to improve the television signal in mid-Sussex.

Estelle Morris: holding answer 22 March 2004
	Broadcasters, through contracts with transmission operators, are responsible for maintaining the terrestrial television network. The Broadcasters are no longer seeking to improve analogue coverage in the UK as this is expected to be switched off in favour of digital TV.
	While much of mid-Sussex already receives digital terrestrial TV, the broadcasters are aware that coverage is not universal and are keen to improve this. Unfortunately, due to International planning constraints this cannot happen before switchover.

TRANSPORT

Bus Services

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he offers to local authorities on their subsidy regime for bus services; and what discussions he has had with the Department for Education and Skills on school transport policies.

Tony McNulty: It is for local authorities to determine their policies and procedures for the subsidy of bus services in their area, within the framework set by the Transport Acts 1985 and 2000. We have however provided a guide to good practice on the procurement of local bus and community transport services, including school transport services. This guide is currently being revised and up-dated.
	Ministers and officials of this Department and the Department for Education and Skills have frequent discussions on school transport issues. In September 2003, the two Departments jointly published "Travelling to School: an action plan", setting out measures to reduce car dependency and increase the proportion of children walking, cycling and taking the bus to school. We are working closely together on the implementation of the action plan and-the School Transport Bill.

Cycling Accidents

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to reduce the level of accidents and injuries among cyclists aged 16 years and under; and if he will include the compulsory wearing of safety helmets.

David Jamieson: We have a safer cycling programme, which applies both to cyclists aged 16 and under, and older cyclists. This package of measures includes improved infrastructure—better cycle routes, off road cycle tracks, cycle lanes, advance stop lines, toucan crossings etc.; better driving standards and advice for cyclists, for example we are encouraging better facilities for cyclists and improving training and testing for motorists. It also covers the promotion of measures which cyclists can take to protect themselves, such as taking cycle training, making themselves conspicuous and wearing a cycle helmet.
	Measures specifically aimed at younger cyclists include a Cycle Sense campaign. This is aimed at teenagers and was launched on 21 May last year. It encourages teenagers to wear cycle helmets and consists of posters and a Cycle Sense website. For younger cyclists we also produce "Arrive Alive"—a Highway Code for young road users, and we have also worked in partnership with Disney, using their "Recess" characters to promote safer cycling for children through "Cycle Smart" comics and posters. These are available free through local authority road safety officers.
	Our position on compulsion has been that at current wearing rates it would cause enforcement difficulties and could have an effect on cycling levels. But the Government will keep their policies in this as in all areas under review in the light of discussion in Parliament and elsewhere.

Departmental Scientific Adviser

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has a Chief Scientific Adviser.

Tony McNulty: Professor Frank Kelly joined the Department for Transport as its Chief Scientific Adviser in August 2003.

E-business Strategy

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to produce his Department's e-business strategy.

Tony McNulty: A summary of the Department's e-business strategy was presented on page 116 of the Department's Annual Report 2003 (Cm 5907). Good progress has continued to be made during 2003–04, including the launch of an internet service for the booking of practical Driving Tests, a Motoring section of the new DirectGov service and a pilot service for the online payment of Vehicle Excise Duty.

Fuel-efficient Vehicles

Claire Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to extend the grant scheme for fuel efficient and hybrid powered vehicles.

David Jamieson: Overall DfT funding for the Transport Energy programmes, including the Powershift grant programme, which supports purchases of clean hybrid and alternatively fuelled vehicles, will be nearly £30 million in 2004–05, the same level as in 2003–04. We will be carrying out a consultation exercise later this year to invite views on how well the Transport Energy grant programmes are assisting the delivery of the Government's policy objectives in the Powering Future Vehicles Strategy, and how the programmes could be improved.

Headlamp Glare

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the conclusions of the research project sponsored by his Department into the safe limits for headlamp glare; and if he will make a statement on the action the Government intend to take in the light of the conclusions of the report.

David Jamieson: The research was carried out by ICE Ergonomics Ltd. Copies of the "Vehicle Lighting: Headlamp Glare and Driver Vision" summary report have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	The Department for Transport is actively involved in developing international standards for improved vehicle lighting and will continue to monitor proposals for new headlamp regulations and to oppose them where there is a possibility of increased glare.
	Research is currently being carried out into headlamp misalignment as a cause of annual roadworthiness test failure for heavy goods vehicles. The results will be used to consider how the incidence of poorly adjusted headlamps could be reduced.
	The Department is also developing protocols for a Primary New Car Assessment Programme looking at lighting and other safety features. If these are adopted as a basis for a European consumer information programme, assessment of headlamps for glare will contribute to the vehicle's rating.

M1

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the roadworks being undertaken between junctions 1 and 2 of the M1 motorway and the roadworks being undertaken on Hendon Way, London have not been phased and carried out consecutively.

Kim Howells: The Highways Agency and Transport for London liaised prior to the start of these works to avoid clashes of major works likely to cause severe disruption. These meetings concluded that certain works could be carried out simultaneously.
	The works by Transport for London are currently being carried out at the southern end of the A41 only during off-peak hours. The Highways Agency works are continuing 24 hours a day, seven days a week so that they can be completed in the shortest time with minimal inconvenience to the public.
	Monitoring by both the Highways Agency and Transport for London has indicated no serious problems for motorists.

Science Strategy

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to enhance science in his Department since the publication of the Government's science strategy, Investing in Innovation.

Tony McNulty: The Department for Transport (DfT) has maintained its commitment to the use of science for policy making and delivery. DfTs expenditure on Science, Engineering and Technology remains at the levels indicated in the annual Office of Science and Technology publication "The Forward Look". This includes commissioned research expenditure of around £45 million per year.
	In August 2003 Professor Frank Kelly joined the Department as Chief Scientific Adviser. He is focusing on ensuring that DfT scientific activities are well directed and policies are based on sound scientific advice. He also leads on developing a technology strategy for the Department.
	In December 2003, the Department published an Evidence and Research Strategy, which aims to help achieve the goal of better evidence based policy-making by taking a strategic look at its future evidence needs. This will inform the planning and execution of the Department's research.
	The Department has also created a web-based Research Management Database (RMD) which will make it easier for departmental staff as well as people outside the Department to access the results of the research funded by the DfT. The RMD can be accessed at http://www.rmd.dft.gov.uk.
	DfT is continuing to implement the recommendations of the 2002 Cross Cutting Review of Science in Government, and Investing in Innovation. This includes ensuring that our research, and evidence and research expertise are managed effectively.
	We support a Horizons responsive research programme, which supports innovative research on the challenges and opportunities DfT might face over the next decade and beyond. The programme invites proposals from external researchers via a series of individual calls.
	Renewed emphasis is being put on maximising the use of Departmental Science to promote innovation within the public services and the economy at large. One of the avenues being explored is the opportunities for innovation through the freeing up of information eg real time traffic data.

Speeding

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents which occured in Essex during 2003 were primarily caused by speed; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Routine statistics do not record the primary cause of a road accident. However, under a pilot scheme, since 1999 Essex police force has provided information on contributory factors to accidents. The latest year for which pilot data are available is 2002. The number of reported injury accidents in Essex in 2002 for which 'excessive speed' was deemed by the police to be one of the contributory factors, was 964. These 964 accidents resulted in 27 deaths, 270 serious injuries and 1,118 slight injuries.
	Essex is one of 14 police forces for which pilot data are available. Overall, the pilot results for 2002 show that 'excessive speed' was deemed to be a factor in some 15 per cent. of injury accidents. The proportion of accidents where 'excessive speed' is coded as a factor rises with the severity of the accident; it applied to 13 per cent. of slight accidents, 23 per cent. of serious accidents and 33 per cen. of fatal accidents in the pilot areas in 2002. If these proportions were the same across the whole of the country, this would mean that 1,132 deaths, 8,274 serious injuries and 34,216 slight injuries were sustained in accidents where excessive speed was deemed to be a contributory factor.
	The contributory factor data are based on the opinions of police officers. In the case of accidents reported by a member of the public at a police station, these factors have to be determined from their description of the accident.
	The true extent of the influence of speed as a contributory factor in road traffic accidents may be even greater than suggested by the single factor 'excessive speed', as some other factors—such as 'following too close'—may also be associated with inappropriate speed. My Department is undertaking further analysis of the pilot contributory factor data and will publish an article later in the year.
	Starting in January 2005 this pilot scheme will be replaced by a new set of questions on contributory factors, which will henceforward form an integral part of the road accident reporting system and will be collected by all police forces for accidents reported at scene by a police officer.

Steer Davies Gleave

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 17 March 2004, Official Report, column 288W, on Steer Davies Gleave, if he will list the contracts undertaken by Steer Davies Gleave in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003.

Tony McNulty: The Strategic Rail Authority has placed the following contracts (with a value of over £25,000) with Steer Davies Gleave in the financial years 2002–03 and 2003–04.
	
		
			  £000(4) total value 
		
		
			 2002–03  
			 Modelling and strategic review of rail industry 75 
			 Review of International rail services 70 
			 Interchange needs 69 
			   
			 2003–04  
			 General Freight and value proposition analysis 108 
			 Freight Studies—General Freight and Value Proposition Analysis 98 
			 Remit for Study of Effects of Change Positions Pattern 124 
			 West Midlands Route Utilisation Strategy: Passenger Demand Analysis and Forecasting 37 
			 West Midlands Route Utilisation Strategy Passenger Counts and Surveys 38 
			 RPC delivery best practice in information provision across the rail industry 87 
			 Great Western Route Utilisation Strategy: Passenger demand analysis and forecasting 32 
			 Policy of build of new stations 100 
			 WCRM review project 85 
			 Development of Regional Planning assessment for North West England 221 
			 Freight Studies—Value Proposition analysis 138 
			 Recalibration of PLANET south models 116 
		
	
	(4) Rounded

Vehicle Excise Duty

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from people who are unable to renew their vehicle excise duty at the appropriate time owing to being out of the country for the period before their existing vehicle excise duty expires; if he will allow a period of grace so that such people can tax their cars on their return to the United Kingdom and not be prosecuted for driving without having paid the duty during the period of grace; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: It is already possible for motorists who are abroad when their vehicle licence becomes due for renewal to relicense their vehicle up to six weeks in advance of expiry date. Tax discs can be posted to applicants at a forwarding address abroad. The law also allows motorists a further 14 days from the date the licence was due, in which to relicense. If the keeper of a vehicle is abroad for a protracted period of time and intends to take a licensed vehicle off the road, they may make a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) to this effect to DVLA and will receive a refund for every full month of unexpired vehicle excise duty. However, if the vehicle is used or kept on the public road it must be licensed.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Cleveland Coroner Inquiry

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the Department expects to announce the outcome of the inquiry into the conduct of the Cleveland Coroner.

Christopher Leslie: His Honour Judge Milford QC presented his report of the investigation into the conduct of Coroner Sheffield in December 2003. As I have said previously, my noble and learned Friend the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor is keen to conclude this matter, but the report has required detailed consideration. It is not possible to set a specific date for public announcement at this stage.

Fines (Salisbury Courts)

Robert Key: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what percentage of fines imposed have been paid in (a) Salisbury magistrates court and (b) Salisbury Crown court in the past 12 months.

Christopher Leslie: Magistrates Courts Committees (MCCs) have a responsibility for the collection of a range of debts imposed by both the magistrates courts and the Crown court.
	Data are collected centrally at a MCC level, rather than at individual court level. The Wiltshire MCC accounting system is therefore unable to separately identify the percentage of fines paid in Salisbury magistrates court or imposed by the Crown court.
	For 2003–04 Wiltshire MCCs fines payment rate for the year to date at the end of January was 94 per cent.

Liability Claims

Brian Cotter: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what his policy is on enabling fixed cost awards for successful employers' liability and public liability claims.

David Lammy: The cost of resolving claims should be reasonable and proportionate and the Department is working with other government departments, the Civil Justice Council, representative bodies from the legal, insurance and local government sectors to determine what role measures such as fixed recoverable costs can play in delivering this aim and helping to resolve disputes more quickly.

Project Funding

Tony Colman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many (a) solely state-financed and (b) public-private partnership and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible have been launched in each region in each of the last 10 years.

Christopher Leslie: The table shows how many (a) solely state financed and (b) public-private and private finance initiative projects the DCA has launched in each of the last 10 years. The solely state financed projects are for property and construction projects. The figures for the public-private and private finance initiative projects include IT and property and construction projects.
	
		
			  Solely state financed Region Public-private and private finance initiative projects Region 
		
		
			 1994–95 3 Wales and Chester 0  
			  1 South Eastern   
			 1995–96 2 South Eastern 0  
			 1996–97 0  0  
			 1997–98 0  2 National 
			 1998–99 0  0  
			 1999–2000 1 Western 0  
			 2000–01 0  2 National 
			 2001–02 0  0 — 
			 2002–03 0  0 — 
			 2003–04 0  1 South Eastern 
			 (expected)   1 North Eastern 
			1 Western

Hutton Inquiry

Chris Grayling: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the total cost to public funds was of the Hutton inquiry.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Torbay (Mr. Sanders) on 23 February 2004, Official Report, column 217W.

Supreme Court

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs which consultees argued against the inclusion of Scottish criminal law appeals within the jurisdiction of the new UK Supreme Court.

Christopher Leslie: The Government published a summary of responses in January 2004. It has also published the full responses given by consultees on the Department for Constitutional Affairs website.
	The Government have proposed that Scottish Criminal Law Appeals should not be included within the jurisdiction of the new UK Supreme Court. The majority of consultees agreed. These included the Law Society of Scotland, the Scottish Executive, Professor Hector MacQueen and Lord Mackay of Clashfern.

Supreme Court

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment has been made of the possible change in fees in civil cases that may be required following the establishment of the UK Supreme Court in (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of the UK.

Christopher Leslie: The costs of the United Kingdom Supreme Court attributable to civil business will be met by fee recovery in England and Wales; and in Northern Ireland. The Government are working closely with the Scottish Executive to develop an appropriate funding mechanism for Scotland. No detailed assessment can be made of changes in fee levels until a location is chosen for the Supreme Court,

Supreme Court

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when Ministers in the Department last met Scottish Ministers to discuss the proposals for a new UK Supreme Court.

Christopher Leslie: My noble and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor last met the First Minister of Scotland on 20 February 2004 and discussed the proposals for a new UK Supreme Court.

Supreme Court

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether Ministers in the Department have met representatives of (a) the Law Society of Scotland, (b) the Faculty of Advocates, (c) the Shrieval Bench, (d) Scottish judges and (e) the Scottish Legal Aid Board to discuss the proposals for a new UK Supreme Court.

Christopher Leslie: Ministers in the Department for Constitutional Affairs have informally met representatives of the Faculty of Advocates and Scottish judges to discuss proposals for a new UK Supreme Court.
	There has been an exchange of correspondence with the Law Society of Scotland and this and other organisations responded to the Department's consultation paper on the proposed UK Supreme Court.
	There have been no meetings between Department for Constitutional Affairs Ministers and either the Shrieval Bench or the Scottish Legal Aid Board.

HEALTH

Social Work

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in increasing the number of people applying to courses leading to a qualification in social work.

Stephen Ladyman: The introduction of the social work degree in September 2003, a non means tested bursary for students not supported through training by their employer and our on-going national recruitment campaign is having a positive effect on applications to approved courses and in widening participation. The last available data in 2002 showed an increase in applications of 6 per cent.

Patients Forums

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will increase the support given to patients forums.

Rosie Winterton: Support for patients forums is organised by the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health. The budget for the Commission is £35.4 million in financial year 2003–04 and contracts have been awarded for support organisations to provide day to day support for forums.

Obesity

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's policy to tackle obesity.

Melanie Johnson: Tackling obesity is at the heart of many of the Government's health priority areas. Prevention is the best long-term approach, especially in children, by improving diet and promoting physical activity. The Public Health White Paper will provide the overarching framework for work on diet and nutrition, physical activity and obesity.

Hospital-acquired Infections

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to issue new guidance on treatment and prevention of hospital-acquired infections.

Melanie Johnson: Our action plan "Winning Ways—Working together to reduce Healthcare Associated Infection in England" is intended to ensure the implementation of existing guidance. It has a strong focus on better information and monitoring at the local level to secure change, with further guidance in due course.

Health Services (West Worcestershire)

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish plans for the future of the health service in the constituency of West Worcestershire.

Stephen Ladyman: South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust is responsible for commissioning health care in West Worcestershire, to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services.
	Over the current three year period, South Worcestershire's allocation will increase in cash terms by £60.6 million or over 30 per cent. That is a significant level of investment and will deliver real benefits and results for the people of West Worcestershire.

Blood Donation

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend the ban on blood donations from those who have received a blood transfusion since 1980 to organ recipients; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: Individuals who have had an organ transplant would be excluded from being blood donors because of their underlying condition, which led to that organ transplant.

Blood Donation

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Blood and Tissues for Transplantation has decided whether to ban recipients of blood from donating blood; and when the decision will be made public.

Melanie Johnson: The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Blood and Tissues for Transplantation met on 22 January to discuss further measures to safeguard the blood supply against the possible risk of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD). The Committee advised that the United Kingdom blood services should exclude those people who have previously received a blood transfusion since 1980 as a precautionary measure against the risk of vCJD being transmitted by blood and blood components. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health made a statement to the House on this issue on 16 March.

Sports Provision

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to ensure that primary care trusts, local authorities and others have shared objectives with regard to sport and physical activity.

Melanie Johnson: The cross-Government Activity Co-ordination Team (ACT), jointly chaired by myself and my hon. Friend, the Minister of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Richard Caborn), is drawing up a plan to increase physical activity levels across England and this will include work by the national health service, local government and others.

Digital Hearing Aids

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on access to digital hearing aids.

Stephen Ladyman: The Royal National Institute for Deaf People has successfully managed the Modernising Hearing Aid Services (MHAS) project on behalf of my Department. Already digital hearing aids are available in two thirds of the National Health Service audiology departments in England and by April 2005, they will be available throughout England.

Administration Costs

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will undertake to reduce the administration costs of (a) strategic health authorities, (b) primary care trusts and (c) NHS trusts by setting up shared administration and human resources systems.

John Hutton: The Department has initiated a number of initiatives to reduce the administration and human resource costs of all National Health Service bodies. These include the setting up of two shared service centres to provide financial services and the sponsoring of a number of projects designed to support the NHS in recruiting, retaining and managing its workforce.
	The shared financial service centres in Bristol and Leeds were set up as pilots last year. These have been successful and the Department is currently advertising for a private sector partner to help expand the centres and make their services available across the NHS. The human resources projects cover electronic recruitment and careers, and staff records/payroll. The recruitment and careers project is currently being rolled out across the NHS and staff records/payroll will be piloted this year.

Alcohol-related Violence

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department has taken to ensure that the NHS co-operates with other agencies to tackle alcohol-related violence.

Melanie Johnson: Crime and disorder reduction partnerships tackle crime at local level. National health service involvement in tackling alcohol-related crime will be strengthened when primary care trusts become responsible authorities within these partnerships from April 2004.

Angiography

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to his Answer of 9 February 2004, Official Report, column 1200W, on angiography, how many waits were under (a) three, (b) six, (c) nine, (d) 12 and (e) 15 months;
	(2)  pursuant to his Answer of 9 February 2004, Official Report, column 1200W, on angiography, how many waits were under (a) three, (b) six, (c) nine, (d) 12 and (e) 15 months for (i) England and (ii) each Strategic Health Authority.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested has been placed in the Library.
	No patient will wait more than nine months from April 2004.

Berners Willi Syndrome

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the UK have Berners Willi Syndrome; what the cost was to (a) the NHS and (b) social services departments of treating them in the last financial year; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: There are estimated to be about 1,100 people with Prader Willi Syndrome (PWS) in England. Packages of care reflecting individual needs are drawn up locally. Records of expenditure relating specifically to people suffering from PWS are not collected centrally.

Carers Assessments

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many carers assessments were carried out by each local authority in England during (a) 2002 and (b) 2003.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 18 March 2004
	Information showing the number of carer assessments carried out by each council in England for the year 2001–02 and 2002–03, has been placed in the Library.

Chronic Disease Management

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the total cost of chronic disease to (a) the NHS and (b) the economy as a whole.

John Hutton: There is a range of evidence that confirms that patients with chronic conditions make the most use of health services. For example, around 80 per cent. of general practice consultations and 60 per cent. of hospital bed usage relates to chronic diseases. It is, however, difficult to estimate the full costs of these conditions reliably. Spending on the disease-focused national service frameworks was estimated at £9.9 billion in 2002–03 by Derek Wanless in "Securing our Future Health: Taking a Long-Term View", but this represents only a part of the costs of chronic disease.
	Improving the care offered to people with chronic conditions now represents a major challenge to the National Health Service and partner organisations and we have just announced plans to establish demonstration sites within each strategic health authority as part of a programme to address this challenge.

Dentistry

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies there are for NHS (a) general practitioners and (b) dentists in each primary care trust.

John Hutton: Information on the number of general practitioners (GP) vacancies in each primary care trust that occurred between 1 April 2002 and 31 March 2003 has been placed in the Library.
	The recruitment, retention and vacancy survey is a count of all GP vacancies that have occurred during each year. It will include existing posts that doctors have left and also new posts created to increase the work force, even where they were filled very quickly. The number of vacancies in parts is a result of there being more posts overall, reflecting the Government's plan to increase the GP work force.
	In the general dental service dentists are recruited and employed by independent contractors. This information is therefore not available centrally.

Dentistry

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what incentives are being offered to dentists to practise NHS dentistry in Pendle.

Rosie Winterton: Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust has been identified as one of the 16 PCTs where access is a significant problem. The National Health Service dentistry support team is currently working with the PCT to provide advice and guidance on best practice in increasing access and modernising dentistry locally, backed by £9 million nationally. A Dental Action Plan has been developed jointly with the two neighbouring primary care trusts in East Lancashire This plan is wide-ranging, but includes offering incentive grants to dental students willing to practice in the area for three to five years following vocational training, equating to £3,000 per year.

Dentistry

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the reasons for dentists leaving the NHS for the private sector; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has not itself commissioned any such research. However, the Department has been aware, through working with the dental profession and from various reports by independent bodies such as the Audit Commission, that there is a high level of discontent amongst dentists with the current arrangements. Dentists tell us that the current remuneration system, which is based on fee for item of service, feels like a treadmill and is the main cause of dissatisfaction among dentists and patients. It gears payments towards treatment rather than prevention and its piecework nature is thought to act as a barrier to dentists agreeing to undertake National Health Service work.
	In 2001, the then Chief Dental Officer, Dame Margaret Seward, was invited to lead a working group, comprising representatives from the profession, patient groups and other stakeholders, to look at the options to modernise NHS dentistry, building on the Government's strategy document, "Modernising NHS Dentistry: Implementing the NHS Plan", published in September 2000.
	The group's conclusions are set out in "NHS Dentistry: Options for Change", which was published in August 2002. The key themes and priorities that emerged were the need for local commissioning and funding and new methods of remuneration for general dental practitioners.
	We have followed up this work by taking powers through the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 to undertake wide-ranging reform of NHS dentistry. Under these proposals, primary care trusts will assume responsibility for commissioning primary dental care services. With these responsibilities will go the financial resources, totalling some £1.3 billion this year (2003-04), which are currently held centrally. These changes are aimed to underpin modernised, high-quality primary dental care services properly integrated with the rest of the NHS and providing better access, improved patient experience and better working lives for dentists and their staff.

East Midlands Ambulance Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on recent trends in the response times by the East Midlands Ambulance Service to Category A emergency call outs within the Melton, Rutland and Harborough Primary Care Trust Area; and if he will set up an inquiry into the management of this ambulance service.

Stephen Ladyman: Information on recent trends by the East Midlands Ambulance Service to Category A emergency call outs within the Melton, Rutland and Harborough Primary Care Trust area are not available centrally.
	Information about the performance of ambulance trusts is published annually in a statistical bulletin. The latest data are in "Ambulance Services, England: 2002–03". A copy of the bulletin is available in the Library and at www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0313.htm.
	In line with "Shifting the Balance of Power", it is for Trent and Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland strategic health authorities to decide whether an inquiry into the management of the trust is necessary.

Elderly People

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is for the rehabilitation of elderly people; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The development and expansion of intermediate care services is key to the Government's policy for the rehabilitation of elderly people. In 2003–04 a total of £405 million has been made available to the national health service for intermediate care services.
	The national service framework (NSF) for older people asks the NHS and local councils, in partnership with independent sector providers, to develop an appropriate range of services that aid rehabilitation and recovery. Individual care plans should clearly identify any potential for rehabilitation.

Environmental Protection

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms exist to assess (a) the health benefits and (b) the potential savings for the NHS in the regulatory impact assessments undertaken by (i) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and (ii) Department of Trade and Industry on proposed environmental protection measures.

John Hutton: holding answer 23 February 2004
	I understand all regulatory impact assessments (RIAs) undertaken by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Department for Trade and Industry include details, where appropriate, of not only the obvious costs and benefits of the proposal but also the wider economic, social and environmental impacts. This includes health benefits and, where appropriate, public sector impacts, including savings. Information regarding the costs and benefits analysis of policy proposals is contained in the Cabinet Office guidance, Better Policy Making: A Guide To Regulatory Impact Assessment.
	Within DEFRA, use of the integrated policy appraisal screening tool is also encouraged, which provides a checklist of questions on potential impacts of a proposed policy, including a question on access to National Health Service services.
	Analytical work within DEFRA also covers the quantification and valuation of health benefits and costs to inform policy making and feed directly into the RIA process. For example, considerable work has been undertaken on quantifying and valuing the health benefits of improved air quality, on valuing the benefits of improvements to bathing water quality and on valuing the "intangible" impacts of flooding, that is the health and stress effects associated with flooding.
	DEFRA will be shortly issuing further guidance to operating authorities on the application of the results of research on the health and stress impacts of flooding for use in project appraisal.

NHS Trusts

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the total cost of his Department's policy to franchise the management of failing NHS trusts.

John Hutton: Staff time is not recorded by task undertaken and it is therefore not possible to differentiate the amount of time allocated to this task by the organisations involved.

NHS Trusts

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on franchising the management of failing NHS trusts.

John Hutton: National health service franchising is a way of introducing new senior management to poorly performing NHS organisations as a means of improving performance.
	Franchising is only considered for zero star trusts, which are unable to demonstrate their capacity under existing management for sustainable improvements in performance. Normally, it is a last resort for trusts where less direct forms of assistance, support and/or intervention have already failed or are considered unlikely to succeed.
	It is for strategic health authorities to decide what support and intervention is necessary in zero star trusts and primary care trusts.

Franchise Managers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role the Department has played in appointing franchise managers to zero star acute hospital trusts, with particular reference to (a) their terms of employment, (b) their remuneration packages and (c) approving their plans for improving the performance of the trust.

John Hutton: The chief executives appointed to the seven national health service trusts that have been franchised were appointed and employed by the NHS trust chairs and non-executives on behalf of the trusts. The terms of their employment and remuneration are matters for the appointments and remuneration committees of the respective trust boards, as is the case for all NHS trust chief executive appointments.
	The Department was represented on each candidate's interview panel.
	Franchise plans are documents that set out future operational proposals for the trust, and formed the basis of the franchise application. The Department representatives saw the franchise plans as they were part of the recruitment process.

Hip Replacements

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the latest estimated cost is of a hip replacement operation on the NHS.

John Hutton: According to the National Schedule of Reference Costs 2003, the national average cost of a primary hip replacement undertaken by a National Health Service trust as a planned elective inpatient admission is £4,660.

Hospital Car Park Charges

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals (a) charge and (b) do not charge (i) staff, (ii) visitors and (iii) patients to park.

John Hutton: It is a matter for individual National Health Service trusts to decide whether to charge for car parking in the light of local circumstances. Information on this activity is, therefore, not collected centrally.

Medical Contracts

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the achievability of his target of placing all general practitioners on (a) personal medical service and (b) general medical services contracts by 31st March.

John Hutton: We expect the majority of general practitioners to have entered into valid contracts by 1 April 2004.

NHS Professionals

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the funding for NHS Professionals for the 2002–03 financial year and each of the previous years since inception was spent on (a) staff salaries, (b) infrastructure and premises costs and (c) marketing and advertising; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 11 March 2004
	This information is not held centrally. The newly established NHS Professionals special health authority will identify expenditure on these areas separately in future.

Nursing

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has collated on how many black and ethnic minority nurses in the NHS are paid less than their white counterparts.

John Hutton: This information is not collected centrally.
	The proposed new pay system for the non-medical workforce, "Agenda for Change", developed in partnership with the trades unions, is designed to ensure there is equal pay for work of equal value for all non-medical staff regardless of their ethnic origin.

Parliamentary Questions

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the question reference 156621 tabled by the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland on 25 February 2004, on the promotion of organ donation.

Rosie Winterton: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on Monday 22 March.

Patient Power

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to implement the Government's commitment to give patients more power over the treatment they receive.

John Hutton: Building on the Best: Choice, Responsiveness and Equity in the NHS, published on 9 December 2003, sets out what steps we are taking to increase patient choice in the national health service. The document includes six priorities for immediate action including extending choice in treatment and care. One of the six priorities emphasises the importance of information so that patients have the power and confidence to work in partnership with clinical staff and share decisions about their care and treatment.

Primary Care Trusts

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department is taking in response to Commission for Health Improvement concerns on the capacity of primary care trusts to use commissioning as a lever for improvement.

John Hutton: holding answer 16 March 2004
	Primary care trusts (PCTs) currently control 75 per cent. of the total National Health Service budget and from April 2004 that will increase to 81 per cent. This places PCTs in the forefront of the modernisation agenda, with the resources at their disposal to deliver improvements for their local populations. Through the Modernisation Agency, PCTs will continue to have access to high quality support programmes (such as the national primary and care trust development programme) that provide opportunities for the sharing of good practice and expert advice.
	In addition, work is currently under way to identify opportunities for primary care clinicians to become more actively involved in the commissioning process. This will facilitate further clinician to clinician commissioning using accepted clinical care pathways.

Private Health Providers

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what sums the NHS has paid to private health providers in each year since 2003; and how much has been paid this year.

John Hutton: The Department does not hold centrally information on the amount the National Health Service has paid to private health providers in each year since 2003. The exception is the independent sector treatment centre programme. The centre at Daventry opened in October 2003 and we estimate that, by the end of March 2004, the amount paid to the provider will be £1.1 million. The national mobile cataract treatment centre opened in February 2004 and we estimate that, by the end of March 2004, the amount paid will be £2 million.

Recruitment

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of recruitment of civil servants for the Department was in each financial year since 1996–97, broken down by (a) delegated or contracted out recruitment procedures and (b) recruitment procedures carried out by the Department.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not keep a record of the cost of recruitment of civil servants broken down by delegated or contracted out recruitment procedures.
	The recruitment of staff into the Department is delegated to managers with the help of their corporate development teams. The information on the cost of recruitment procedures carried out by the Department can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Temporary Staff

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff the Department employs on a temporary basis through employment agencies; what percentage this is of total staff employed; and how much the Department paid employment agencies to supply temporary staff in (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04 to the most recent date for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows the contract/employment agency staff costs for years 2001–02 to 2003–04, and the percentage of contract/employment agency costs as a percentage of total staff costs. Employment agency costs are not kept separately.
	
		
			 Year Amount (£) Percentage 
		
		
			 2001–02 7,589,927 5 
			 2002–03 10,245,940 7 
			 2003–04(5) 10,190,618 8 
		
	
	(5) Expenditure in 2003–04 is April 2003 to January 2004.
	The number of temporary staff employed through employment agencies and the percentage this is of the total staff employed can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Temporary staff employed through employment agencies are recruited by managers according to business needs. The Department does not keep a central record of the number of temporary staff employed through employment agencies.

Trusts (Franchise Appointments)

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the original franchise appointments made by trusts with no stars and the current status of those appointments.

John Hutton: When Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals National Health Service Trust was franchised in April 2002, Andrew Morris was appointed as chief executive for one year while he mentored Glen Douglas in the role. As planned, Glen Douglas took over as chief executive when Andrew Morris left in April 2003. Mr. Douglas remains in post.
	When Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust was franchised in May 2002, Sue Jennings was appointed as chief executive while continuing her post as chief executive of Basildon and Thurrock NHS Trust. Ms Jennings remains in post at Dartford and Gravesham. A new chief executive has since been recruited at Basildon and Thurrock.
	When East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust was franchised in November 2002, Nick Carver was appointed as chief executive. Mr. Carver remains in post.
	When University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust was franchised in May 2002, David Roberts became the chief executive at the trust. Mr. Roberts remains in post.
	When Barnet and Chase Farm NHS Trust was franchised in February 2002, Paul O'Connor was appointed as chief executive. Mr. O'Connor resigned in January 2004.
	When Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust was franchised in April 2002, Alan Bedford was appointed as chief executive. Mr. Bedford resigned in February 2004.

Wanless Report

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is planning to take in response to the Wanless report on public health.

Melanie Johnson: We have transformed the National Health Service through extra investment and the hard work of staff.
	We are turning our attention to the key public health challenges—obesity, smoking and sexually transmitted infections- and continue to reduce health inequalities.
	We will respond to Wanless Report through the forthcoming White Paper on improving people's health. This will be informed by 'Choosing Health', launched on 3 March, which will look at the action required to improve people's health.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

End of Life Vehicles Directive

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the End of Life Vehicles Directive, on (a) the number of old and inefficient polluting vehicles on the road, (b) the number of cars abandoned and (c) the price of scrapping an old car.

Stephen Timms: Implementation of the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive is not expected to affect significantly the average age of vehicles being scrapped. The Department's Regulatory Impact Assessment of 20 June 2002, relating to the Government's decision to introduce producer responsibility for free take-back of all complete ELVs from 2007, did include an estimate of the potential for an increase in the level of vehicles abandoned annually. That estimate was, however, made before the Government took a number of initiatives to bear down on the problem of abandoned vehicles, and was based on ELV processing and treatment costs of £60, whereas latest estimates put these at £16–39. The cost to a last owner of scrapping an old car depends upon a number of factors, including location, age, make, and condition, and the prevailing price of scrap metal.

Energy Supplies

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on (a) recent trends in investment in renewable energy and (b) the effect of those trends upon residents in Buckingham.

Stephen Timms: Recent trends in renewable energy investment have been highly encouraging. More new capacity has been constructed in the last few years than in the previous decade, and a significant amount is currently in the pipeline. This covers a wide range of technologies including onshore and offshore wind, solar and biomass.
	I am not aware of any proposals for new development in Buckingham arising from these trends.

EU Regional Policy

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Government have discussed the proposal for EU Regional Policy with the European Commission; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: I attended an Informal Ministerial meeting in Portlaoise on 27 February, where the future of EU Regional Policy was discussed. I set out the UK's proposals for reform of the Structural and Cohesion Funds post-2006. A range of views were put forward by the Commission and by other member states.
	Negotiations on the reform of EU Regional Policy are still at an early stage. The decision on the 2007–13 Structural and Cohesion Funds must be made by unanimity. Currently, there is no consensus among member states on the best way forward.

Supermarket Supply

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to strengthen the Code of Practice between supermarkets and suppliers.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Office of Fair Trading has recently announced an audit of the supermarkets own records to determine whether there is evidence to support complaints about the code made by various suppliers. DTI is ready to look closely at their findings and any recommendations for action.

Supermarket Supply

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received proposing (a) a statutory code of practice between supermarkets and suppliers and (b) a retail regulator.

Gerry Sutcliffe: There have been a number of representations from hon. Members.

British Electricity Trading andTransmission Arrangements

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate her Department has made of the likely increase in transmission charges for Scottish generators further to the British Electricity Trading and Transmission Arrangements package of reforms.

Stephen Timms: The DTI together with Ofgem has carried out an analysis of the possible impact of BETTA as part of the Energy Bill Regulatory Impact Assessment. This includes an analysis of the increases in transmission charges on Scottish generation. The RIA can be found at: www.dti.gov.uk/energy/leg and reg/acts/ria.pdf
	Chiefly the RIA found that the main market participants, British Energy and the two vertically integrated incumbents, Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern would be exposed to initial costs of around £7.5 million and ongoing costs of some £0.5 million per annum. It is important to note that this excludes the redistributive effects brought about by a Great Britain wide transmission-charging regime.
	However transmission charges for Scottish generators have yet to be finalised. National Grid, the GB System Operator designate, launched the start of their consultation process on transmission charging under BETTA in December 2003. Subsequently and following discussion with the industry, Ofgem and DTI, National Grid published an addendum to the original consultation setting out how charges may vary with different assumptions. National Grid will shortly be publishing their next consultation document, and will issue its final proposals in time for Ofgem to consider and approve by the end of October. National Grid's consultation documents can be found on their website.
	The increase in transmission charges to Scottish generators needs to be seen in the context of a package of reforms that make up BETTA. This increase will be offset by the removal of current interconnector charges and charges for access to the England and Wales market. There will also be lower connection charges for Scottish generation.

British Electricity Trading andTransmission Arrangements

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will publish in full the Ofgem estimates of the net impact of British Electricity Trading and Transmission Arrangements on Scottish generators.

Stephen Timms: The DTI together with Ofgem has carried out an analysis of the possible impact of BETTA as part of the Energy Bill Regulatory Impact Assessment, including an analysis of the impact of BETTA on Scottish generation. The RIA can be found at: www. dti.gov.uk/energy/leg and reg/acts/ria.pdf

Company Investment (Middle East)

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice is given to UK companies on investment in (a) Israel and (b) the Occupied Territories of Palestine.

Mike O'Brien: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) does not actively promote investment opportunities overseas in any particular market. UKTI monitors commercial developments in Israel and the Palestinian territories and alerts UK companies on a case by case basis to specific opportunities in each market. UKTI is ready to offer general advice and support to all UK companies wishing to invest overseas, but it is for the companies themselves to judge the benefits and risks of overseas investment in any market and take decisions accordingly.

Conferences and Seminars

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 12 March 2004, Official Report, col. 1775W, on conferences and seminars, for what reason she does not maintain a central register of the (a) number and (b) cost of conferences and seminars held since June 2001.

Patricia Hewitt: Responsibility for conferences and seminars rests with individual business units in DTI. Statistics on such events with associated costs are not normally required for business reasons and are therefore not collected centrally.

Export Contracts (Iraq)

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the (a) type and (b) value of export contracts to the Iraqi Ministry of Defence for each year since 1979; and if she will list those contracts which were supported by export credits.

Patricia Hewitt: I apologise for the delay in responding to this question. This Department does not keep records of contracts to the Iraqi Ministry of Defence.
	From records available, the contracts with Iraqi defence ministries which were supported by ECGD's Project Group during this period were as follows:
	
		
			 Year Type £ million 
		
		
			 1986 Radio Communications Equipment 26.4 
			 1986 Vehicle-mounted aircraft ground power units 1.6 
			 1986 Radio Communications Equipment 9.7 
			 1986 Radio Communications Equipment 5.5 
			 1986 Radio Communications Equipment 0.7 
			 1986 Radars 0.9 
			 1987 Vehicle-mounted aircraft ground power units 4.2 
			 1997 Motor Generator Units 0.9 
			 1988 HF Receiving Stations 0.2 
			 1988 Scanning Electron Microscope 0.1 
			 1989 Aircraft Ground support air conditioning system 2.9 
		
	
	Additionally during this period ECGD's Insurance Services Group—privatised in 1991—provided credit insurance cover for a number of contracts with Iraqi defence ministries on cash or short terms of payment. From the partial records available at the time of Lord Justice Scott's Inquiry (comprehensive records were only available from 1987), ECGD was able to document having approved over £220 million of credit limits in respect of business on such terms with Iraqi defence ministries, but corresponding records of the amount of business actually transacted against these limits were not available. ECGD did not require to be advised of the types of goods supported under these short term policies although it was a condition of cover that an export licence be obtained by the exporter where this was required.
	This information was made available by ECGD to Lord Justice Scott at the time of his Inquiry.

Miners' Compensation

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many former miners who worked in both the private mining industry and for the National Coal Board have waited for longer than (a) four years, (b) three years and (c) two years for their respiratory claim to be resolved.

Nigel Griffiths: As of 12 March 2004 the figures are:
	
		
			  Over four years Between three to four years Between two to three years 
		
		
			 Claims outstanding 1,913 1,103 685 
			 Claims settled 76 45 66 
			 Total 1,989 1,148 771 
		
	
	The dispute between the claimant's solicitors and small private mines prevented the Department settling the majority of claims in full, although interim payments were made. Agreement between the parties has now been reached.

Miners' Compensation

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many former miners who worked exclusively for the National Coal Board have waited for longer than (a) four years, (b) three years and (c) two years for their respiratory claim to be resolved.

Nigel Griffiths: I am informed that as of 12 March 2004 the figures are:
	
		
			  Over four years Between three to four years Between two to three years 
		
		
			 Claims outstanding 32,172 18,434 23,555 
			 Claims settled 32,617 20,515 24,163 
			 Total 64,789 38,949 47,718 
		
	
	I urge all solicitors and claims handlers to prioritise cases and also to ensure any delays are avoided in settling claims.

Mobile Phone Tracking

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the implications of services available to employers to track automatically the movements of staff using their mobile phones, with particular reference to the European Commission Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications.

Stephen Timms: The Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive (2002/5 8/EC) applies a number of privacy safeguards to value added services based on traffic and location data, including a requirement for informed consent from subscribers or users of the communications service involved, and, in the case of location data services, a requirement that subscribers or users must be able to withdraw their consent on a temporary as well as a long term basis, each time they connect to the network or make a phone call or other form of communication. The Directive was implemented in the UK by the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003, which came into force on 11 December 2003, following public consultation on this and other aspects of the Directive earlier in the year.
	The Directive recognises that there needs to be a degree of flexibility in determining whose consent should be obtained in cases where the subscriber to a service is a different person from the user—for instance, where a business subscribes to a mobile phone service on behalf of employees. In their guidance on the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations, the view of the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is that in the case of a corporate subscriber, a person holding himself out as capable of making decisions on the part of the company is likely to be able to give consent, unless the communications provider has reasonable grounds to believe otherwise.
	This does not remove the need for businesses and other organisations to ensure that they are complying with their own obligations to employees. The ICO have advised us that any use by employers of the data obtained from this kind of system for monitoring purposes must be conducted in accordance with the Data Protection Act and they provide detailed advice in Part 3 of the Employment Practices Data Protection Code, which is specifically concerned with monitoring at work.

Official Engagements (Linlithgow)

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what purpose an official of her Department travelled from London to the Linlithgow constituency on 23 February returning on 24 February; what advice the official gave on planning matters; and what contact the official had with Fauldhouse Community Council.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 4 March 2004
	I wrote to my hon. Friend on this matter on 14 March 2004. The official concerned visited Linlithgow constituency over the stated period as part of the "week in business" programme, which civil servants in the Department are undertaking to better understand the needs of UK businesses. One of her key developmental objectives whilst visiting WBB Minerals Scottish operations was to gain an understanding of the planning process in relation to her work on industrial minerals. She attended an exhibition in Fauldhouse on 24 February 2004 organised by WBB Minerals at the invitation of the company. She attended purely as an observer and at no point did she try to influence the planning process.

Postwatch/Postwatch Scotland

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what the cost of Postwatch has been in each year since its creation;
	(2)  how many staff are employed by Postwatch;
	(3)  what the budget of Postwatch Scotland is in 2003–04;
	(4)  how many staff are employed by Postwatch Scotland.

Stephen Timms: The Postal Services Act provided for the establishment of Consumer Council for Postal Services also known as Postwatch to promote the interests of consumers. Postwatch was set up on 1 January 2001; it is made up of a National Council with four national members and representatives from Scotland, Wales Northern Ireland and six English regions each with its own Chair and Regional Committee.
	Its budget in the three years since it was set up has been:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2001–02 7.89 
			 2002–03 8.19 
			 2003–04 9.904 
		
	
	Postwatch currently has 101 posts in its central office and regions. In some regions rather than employ its own staff, Postwatch outsources to external contractors; this is the case in Scotland where there are five contracted staff. Information on Postwatch budget and staff is published in its Annual Report, copies are made available in the Libraries of the House.

Press Officers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many press officers were employed in her Department in each year from 1990–91 to 2003–04; what the total cost was in each year; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 4 February 2003, Official Report, column 180W.
	The number of Press Officers employed in DTI on 1 January 2004 was 19. A breakdown of Press Office costs is not held and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Renewable Energy

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) portfolio quotas and (b) incentive tariffs are available to encourage greater use and supply of renewable energy in the UK.

Stephen Timms: The Renewables Obligation, introduced with effect from 1 April 2002, provides a substantial market incentive for all eligible forms of renewable energy.
	The Obligation requires licensed electricity suppliers to source specified percentages of the electricity that they supply from renewable sources. The level of the Obligation is set to increase each year from its current level of 4.3 per cent. for 2003–4 to reach 10.4 per cent. for 2010–11. In December, I announced the Government's intention to provide for the level of the Obligation to continue to rise in years beyond 2010–11 so that it would reach 15.4 per cent. for 2015–16.
	Before the introduction of the Renewables Obligation, the Government considered the possibility of introducing a banded Obligation, with the buy-out price set at different levels for different renewable sources of energy. This possibility was rejected, as it was judged that it would segment the market unnecessarily, and would lead to the Government dictating the relative importance of each technology.
	Failure to reach the specified percentages exposes suppliers to a buy-out price currently set at 3,051 pence per KWh for each unit not sourced from renewables.
	It is open to suppliers to offer "green tariffs" of various kinds to their customers, some of which may go beyond the requirements of the Renewables Obligation in terms of support for renewables.

Renewable Energy

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to lower incentives on the (a) development, (b) sale and (c) use of environmentally unfriendly energy technologies.

Stephen Timms: The department works with others to develop a range of measures designed to disincentivise environmentally unfriendly energy technologies. These include:
	regulatory instruments—like the implementation of the Large Combustion Plant Directive;
	economic instruments—like the forthcoming EU Emissions Trading Scheme;
	the production of guidance—such as the guidance we publish for developers seeking consent for large power stations on the need to consider opportunities for Combined Heat and Power.
	In addition, of course, we have developed a wide range of incentives for environmentally friendly sources of energy, for example the Renewables Obligation which provides an incentive for the use of renewable energy sources to generate electricity.

Renewables Obligation Certificates Scheme

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the operation of the Renewables Obligation Certificates scheme.

Stephen Timms: The Renewables Obligation (RO) will only have been in operation for two years at the end of March 2004. However, in this short period of time it has proved successful in bringing forward new renewables generation and in encouraging investment. More new capacity was installed over this period than in the previous decade, and we remain confident that this support mechanism will help us meet our 2010 renewable energy target.
	An initial assessment of the RO came in the form of a technical review shortly after the first year of operation. This was to ensure that the RO was working as first intended and proposed changes to benefit biomass and small generators. Changes to the Obligation resulting from this review and from the 'Late-payments' consultation are currently before Parliament. In February of this year Ofgem also released their review of the RO's first year of operation.
	All of this leads into the major review of the RO, which is scheduled for 2005–06.

Taxis

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to publish the Government's response to the Office of Fair Trading Report on the regulation of the taxi trade.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Mr right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry issued a written statement to Parliament announcing the Government's response to the report on Thursday 18 March 2004.

Tidal Power

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the potential for generating electricity using the tidal power of the Severn estuary; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Between 1978 and 1994 the Government supported a number of studies under its Tidal Energy Research and Development Programme. Those studies included an assessment of the feasibility and financial viability of a Severn barrage scheme.
	The Government's Energy White Paper published in February 2003 looked at potential renewable sources of energy, including large scale barrage. It concluded that this type of scheme is very expensive and that any plans for a Severn Barrage would raise strong environmental concerns and as such it would not be fruitful to pursue at this stage.

Wind Farms

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans there are to develop wind farms in (a) Lancashire and (b) the North West.

Stephen Timms: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is only asked to give permission routinely when proposed wind farms have a capacity above 50 MWh. She is currently considering one application for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to construct a 65 MW windfarm at Scout Moor, nr Rochdale. She is also considering one application for a 67.5 MW windfarm at Whinash, Tebay, Cumbria.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Carer's Allowance

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in each London borough were receiving carer's allowance in each of the last six years.

Maria Eagle: The numbers of Carers Allowance recipients from September 2001 to August 2003, the latest available figures, are set out in the tables below. Figures prior to September 2001 are not available.
	
		Carer's Allowance Recipients as at August 2003
		
			  Total 
		
		
			 Great Britain 414,240 
			 London GOR 41,695 
			 Inner London—West 4,560 
			 Camden 1,125 
			 City of London 15 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 740 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 515 
			 Wandsworth 1,175 
			 Westminster 995 
			 Inner London—East 12,745 
			 Hackney 1,560 
			 Haringey 1,300 
			 Islington 1,225 
			 Lambeth 1,160 
			 Lewisham 1,440 
			 Newham 2,365 
			 Southwark 1,535 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,160 
			 Outer London—East and North East 10,570 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,550 
			 Bexley 1,205 
			 Enfield 1,555 
			 Greenwich 1,660 
			 Havering 1,400 
			 Redbrldge 1,555 
			 Waltham Forest 1,645 
			 Outer London—South 4,920 
			 Bromley 1,300 
			 Croydon 1,640 
			 Kingston upon Thames 430 
			 Merton 725 
			 Sutton 825 
			 Outer London—West and North West 8,905 
			 Barnet 1,695 
			 Brent 1,490 
			 Ealing 1,640 
			 Harrow 1,140 
			 Hillingdon 1,275 
			 Hounslow 1,195 
			 Richmond upon Thames 470 
		
	
	
		Carer's Allowance Recipients as at September 2002
		
			  Total 
		
		
			 Great Britain 395,390 
			 London GOR 38,745 
			 Inner London—West 4,080 
			 Camden 980 
			 City of London 15 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 670 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 455 
			 Wandsworth 1,100 
			 Westminster 860 
			 Inner London—East 11,990 
			 Hackney 1,480 
			 Haringey 1,210 
			 Islington 1,140 
			 Lambeth 1,125 
			 Lewisham 1,390 
			 Newham 2,220 
			 Southwark 1,425 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,005 
			 Outer London—East and North East 9,965 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,450 
			 Bexley 1,145 
			 Enfield 1,455 
			 Greenwich 1,540 
			 Havering 1,370 
			 Redbridge 1,455 
			 Waltham Forest 1,550 
			 Outer London—South 4,545 
			 Bromley 1,185 
			 Croydon 1,510 
			 Kingston upon Thames 410 
			 Merton 660 
			 Sutton 780 
			 Outer London—West and North West 8,165 
			 Barnet 1,545 
			 Brent 1,330 
			 Ealing 1,495 
			 Harrow 1,030 
			 Hillingdon 1,215 
			 Hounslow 1,110 
			 Richmond upon Thames 440 
		
	
	
		Carer's Allowance Recipients as at September 2001
		
			  Total 
		
		
			 Great Britain 379,780 
			 London GOR 36,765 
			 Inner London—West 3,755 
			 Camden 930 
			 City of London 20 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 610 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 430 
			 Wandsworth 1,065 
			 Westminster 705 
			 Inner London—East 11,365 
			 Hackney 1,380 
			 Haringey 1,160 
			 Islington 1,040 
			 Lambeth 1,055 
			 Lewisham 1,265 
			 Newham 2,165 
			 Southwark 1,365 
			 Tower Hamlets 1,935 
			 Outer London—East and North East 9,600 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,425 
			 Bexley 1,130 
			 Enfield 1,380 
			 Greenwich 1,460 
			 Havering 1,305 
			 Redbridge 1,415 
			 Waltham Forest 1,485 
			 Outer London—South 4,360 
			 Bromley 1,150 
			 Croydon 1,480 
			 Kingston upon Thames 385 
			 Merton 600 
			 Sutton 750 
			 Outer London—West and North West 7,685 
			 Barnet 1,465 
			 Brent 1,295 
			 Eating 1,410 
			 Harrow 955 
			 Hillingdon 1,135 
			 Hounslow 1,030 
			 Richmond upon Thames 400 
		
	
	Source
	IAD Information Centre.
	Note:
	Figures taken from a 100 per cent. sample at 31 August 2003
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.

Child Support Agency

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many (a) Child Support Agency sites, and (b) Child Support Agency staff at each, are dealing specifically with clerical cases caused by the new system failures;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of (a) trained staff and (b) other resources to the Child Support Agency to handle the increase in manual clerical cases due to the failures of the new system.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 23 March 2004
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Child Support Agency sites, and how many Child Support Agency staff at each are dealing specifically with clerical cases caused by the new system failures; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of (a) trained staff and (b) other resources to the Child Support Agency to handle the increase in manual clerical cases due to the failures of the new system.
	I have looked carefully at the number of staff needed to handle cases clerically. Currently 105 staff on two sites at Newcastle and Cumnock are engaged in this work. I keep this under continuous review and will adjust the figure as necessary.

Council Tax Benefit

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people eligible for but not claiming council tax benefit in (a) Scotland, (b) the Highlands and Islands, (c) Orkney and (d) Shetland.

Chris Pond: Information requested is not available. National estimates of take-up of council tax benefit are presented in the DWP report series 'Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up'. Latest estimates relate to financial year 2001–02 and copies of the published report are held in the Library.
	Estimates of council tax benefit take-up cover private households in Great Britain; sub-national estimates cannot be reliably produced.

Discretionary Social Fund

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the net budget is for the Discretionary Social Fund for (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06.

Chris Pond: The discretionary Social Fund plays an important role in the Government's agenda for tackling poverty and social exclusion by helping the poorest members of society meet the cost of occasional one-off essential items through Community Care Grants, Budgeting Loans and Crisis Loans.
	The net discretionary Social Fund budget is £168.2 million for 2004–05 and £178.2 million for 2005–06. A written statement about the gross discretionary Social Fund budget for 2004–05 and its breakdown will be made in due course.

Earnings Disregards

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when earnings disregards for claimants were last reviewed; and what plans he has to increase them.

Chris Pond: Income-related benefits are intended to help people whose resources are insufficient to meet their day-to-day living expenses; any income that is available to meet those expenses is normally taken into account. However, as an incentive to those who wish to work part-time, a certain amount of part-time earnings can be disregarded.
	All aspects of benefit payment, including these disregards, are kept under review in order to ensure the fair and equitable distribution of benefit and the best use of public funds. Earnings disregards were last increased in April 2001, when a higher rate of £20 was introduced for certain vulnerable groups, including disabled people, lone parents and carers.

Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress the Government has made in developing a Framework for Vocational Rehabilitation, as referred to in the Second Stage Report of the Review of Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance.

Des Browne: Good progress has been made to fulfil the Government's commitment to develop and publish a Framework for Vocational Rehabilitation by late summer 2004. As a next step we intend to consult formally with stakeholders in April.

Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many new underwriters have (a) entered and (b) re-established themselves in the market offering employers' liability compulsory insurance over the last five years; and how many underwriters have left the market over the same period.

Des Browne: This information is not collected centrally. It remains the view of the market that capacity for Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI) is increasing at a gradual rate.

Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress the Health and Safety Executive has made in regard to launching a Health and Safety Management Index, as referred to in the Second Stage Report of the Review of Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance.

Des Browne: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has developed a management index to measure the health and safety management performance of large organisations and has placed the index on the HSE website www.hse.gov.uk/research/chaspi.htm for validation. Validation is scheduled to commence in April and to last four months.
	In parallel HSE is developing a similar index for small businesses. A validated version is expected in June. Further work will then be required to convert this into a form that is suited to users, for example, insurers and small businesses.

Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the feasibility of establishing an enforcement database to focus the Health and Safety Executive's enforcement efforts in regard to employers' liability compulsory insurance.

Des Browne: We are re-appraising our approach to an enforcement database in the light of information that the Health and Safety Executive has gathered from 18,000 employers indicating a high level of compliance (over 99 per cent).
	In the meantime we are continuing the actions outlined in the second stage report to improve enforcement. These include commitments to prepare and publish new Government procurement guidance to ensure compliance from bodies that contract with the public sector.

Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to monitor the joint code of practice from the Association of British Insurers and British Insurance Brokers' Association, as referred to in the Second Stage Report of the Review of Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance.

Des Browne: The Association of British Insurers (ABI) and the British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) have been monitoring the implementation of the Statement of Good Practice on renewal of Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI) and public liability insurance published on 6 August 2003.
	The ABI and BIBA have not received any complaints under the Statement.
	In addition the Financial Services Authority (FSA) sent "Good Practice Indicators" to all general Insurance Companies in June 2003 following a project run by the FSA looking at risk management, in writing liability insurance, as part of a Dear CEO (Chief Executive Officer) letter. The indicators included guidance on renewals.
	The FSA will look at how companies writing liability insurance are adhering to these indicators as part of the risk assessment process, which takes place annually for the larger firms and possibly every two or three years for smaller firms.

Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what role information and advice from the Association of British Insurers plays in the development of his Department's policy on employer's liability insurance.

Des Browne: The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has been open and active in its support for the actions mapped out in the Government's Report of the Review of Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI).
	The Government continues to work with the ABI in the delivery of this agenda as well as drawing on support from other key representative organisations such as the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the Engineering Employers' Federation (EEF), the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance is issued by the Financial Services Authority on good practice indicators to be used in assessing firms writing liability insurance, referred to in the Second Stage Report of the Review of Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance.

Des Browne: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) sent the "Good Practice Indicators" to all General Insurance Companies last June following a project run by the FSA looking at risk management practices within the liability insurance market as part of a Dear CEO (Chief Executive Officer) letter. The indicators were issued to the market to try and raise standards within the market, and did not constitute general guidance. They covered Business Operating Environment and Strategy, Pricing and Reinsurance, Risk Management and Claims Handling. A copy has been placed in the Library.

Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of the Making the Market Work initiative by the Association of British Insurers in relation to the cost of premiums for employers' liability compulsory insurance.

Des Browne: The Association of British Insurers (ABI) is planning to undertake an evaluation of the initiative after one year of its operation, in Autumn 2004. The Government will take a close interest in the outcome.

Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many personal injury claims were made to general insurers in specific relation to employers' liability in each of the last five years; what the total value of all costs in relation to such claims was; and what the total value of all settlements in relation to such claims was.

Des Browne: Figures for the number of personal injury claims in relation to Employers' Liability for 1999–2000 are not available. The number of personal injury claims in relation to Employers' Liability for 2001 to 2003 are:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2001 219,183 
			 2002 170,554 
			 2003 183,342 
		
	
	Source:
	Compensation Recovery Unit
	Separate figures for just the total value of costs and just the total value of settlements are not available. However the total value of costs and claims combined for 1999–2002 were:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1999 468 
			 2000 427 
			 2001 639 
			 2002 926 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are not yet available for 2003.
	Source:
	Association of British Insurers
	It is important to note that because of the long tail nature of certain claims, settlements may accrue for many years to come. The figures in the table only relate to the value of claims thus far settled in each of those years.

Lone Parents

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents in Crosby have gained work through the New Deal programme.

Des Browne: Two hundred and ninty lone parents in Crosby have gained a job through the New Deal for Lone Parents since the start of the programme in October 1998.

National Insurance Pension Benefits

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of state payments to pensioners, including income related benefits, was represented by National Insurance pension benefits, in (a) 1983, (b) 1993 and (c) 2003.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is given in the table.
	
		Percentage
		
			  1983–84 1992–93 2002–03 
		
		
			 National Insurance pension benefits as a proportion of all benefits paid to people over pension age 83 78 75 
		
	
	Note:
	Contributory Benefits include: Retirement Pension basic and additional pension; Widows' and Bereavement Benefits; Christmas Bonus contribution based; Invalidity Benefit basic and additional pension (not included in 2002–03 as benefit ceased in 2000).
	Non-Contributory Benefits include non-contributory Retirement Pension; Mobility Allowance (benefit subsumed into Disability Allowance from 1992–93); Attendance Allowance; Disability Living Allowance; Non-Contributory Invalidity Pension/Severe Disablement Allowance; Winter Fuel Payments (payable from 1997–98); Over 75 TV Licence (payable from 2000–01).
	Income Related Benefits include: Housing Benefit; Rate Rebate (1983–84)/Community Charge Benefit (1992–93)/ Council Tax Benefit (2002/03); and Supplementary Benefit (1983–84)/Income Support (1992–93)/Minimum Income Guarantee (2002–03). All income-related benefits relate to people aged 60 or over, rather than over pension age.
	Major Benefits not included in the calculations are: Industrial Injuries Benefits; Invalid Care Allowance.

National Insurance Pension Benefits

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of all pensioner income was represented by National Insurance pension benefits, in (a) 1983, (b) 1993 and (c) 2003.

Malcolm Wicks: Information for 1983 and 2003 is not available. In 1981 National Insurance pension benefits amounted to 52 per cent. of pensioner gross income. In 1993 this proportion was 43 per cent. National Insurance pension benefits amounted to 39 per cent. of pensioners gross income in 2001–02. National insurance pension benefits have fallen relative to pensioner gross income in the last 20 years mainly because occupational pensions have increased by more than average earnings during this period.
	Note:
	The information is derived from the Family Expenditure Survey for the years 1981 and 1993 and the Family Resources Survey for the year 2001–02. Data from the FES and FRS should not be directly compared.

New Deal

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the operation of benefit sanctions for persons participating in the New Deal.

Des Browne: Research that we have conducted into the effects of the imposition of sanctions found that, overall, sanctions do not have a detrimental effect on jobsearch activity, and in many cases resulted in increased effort in actively seeking work.
	A copy of the report 'Saunders, T., Stone, V. and Candy, S. (2001): The Impact of the 26 week Sanctioning Regime. Employment Services Report ESR 100', which deals with the effects of the sanctioning regime is available in the Library.
	Details of the number of sanctions applied to 18 to 24-year-olds are in the quarterly publication 'Labour Market Statistics—Analysis of Sector Decision Making', a copy of which is in the Library. Separate information is not available on sanctions for New Deal 25 plus participants.
	We are continuing to study the effectiveness of benefit sanctions and their effect on individual jobseekers and their families. Work is being undertaken to improve the available statistics, including the development of a sanctions database, with the first results from this are expected later this year.

New Deal

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobseeker's allowance claimants have incurred benefit sanctions for failure to participate in the New Deal in each year since the New Deal's inception; and what percentage of persons liable for benefit sanctions that represents.

Des Browne: Within the New Deal programme, benefit sanctions are applied only in connection with the New Deal for Young People and New Deal 25 plus. Information is not available, for sanctions applied to people who refuse to participate in New Deal 25 plus. The available information is in the table.
	
		Numbers of Decisions and Sanctions for Jobseeker's Allowance claimants who refuse to participate in the New Deal for Young People (NDYP)
		
			 Year Totals Total starts on New Deal for Young People(6) Decisions relating to non-participation in NDYP resulting in a benefit sanction being imposed(7) Decisions relating to non-participation in NDYP resulting in a benefit sanction NOT being applied(8) Percentage of decisions relating to non-participation in NDYP resulting in a benefit sanction being imposed Number of sanctions imposed as a percentage of total starts to NDYP 
		
		
			 1998–99 248,510 3,525 1,601 68.77 1.4 
			 1999–2000 192,530 8,888 3,895 69.53 4.3 
			 2000–01 170,040 8,518 4,372 66.08 4.7 
			 2001–02 160,840 5,953 3,603 62.29 3.5 
			 2002–03 167,370 6,579 3,873 62.94 3.7 
			 2003–04 126,130 4,868 2,462 66.41 3.6 
			 Total 1,065,420 38,450 19,806 66.00 3.4 
		
	
	(6) Some people may have made more than one start on NDYP during the year.
	(7) Some people may have been sanctioned more than once during the year.
	(8) These figures include cases where the original decision has been revised and allowed completely along with those cases were the initial decision was not to impose a sanction.
	(9) Figures are to end December 2003.
	Source:
	Labour Market Statistics—Analysis of Sector Decision Making.

New Deal

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many women in Crosby have benefited from (a) the New Deal for Lone Parents and (b) the New Deal for Partners since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Through the New Deal we have introduced a wide range of initiatives to help individuals improve their employment prospects by giving them the skills, support and confidence they need to move into work. From 12 April we are enhancing New Deal for Partners to offer the same level of help and support as our successful New Deal for Lone Parents programme. From April we shall also start to roll out Work Focused Interviews for Partners, offering greater support to partners of benefit recipients.
	Four hundred and sixty women have started New Deal for Lone Parents in Crosby since the beginning of the programme in October 1998, of whom, 280 have gained a job. Information on the number of women in Crosby who have benefited from the New Deal for Partners is not available.

New Deal

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Hackney North and Stoke Newington have benefited from the New Deal for (a) young people, (b) long-term unemployed and (c) lone parents.

Des Browne: The information is in the table.
	
		Numbers into work in Hackney and Stoke Newington through New Deal programmes
		
			 Programme Numbers into work 
		
		
			 New Deal for Young People 1,630 
			 New Deal 25 plus 2,170 
			 New Deal for Lone Parents 300 
		
	
	Note
	1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. Information is to the end of December 2003.
	Source
	Department for Work and Pensions Information and Analysis Directorate

Pension Entitlements

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the state retirement pension entitlements are of women who are married to younger husbands.

Malcolm Wicks: A married woman may be entitled to a State Pension in her own right if she has paid enough National Insurance (NI) contributions herself.
	However, a married woman can also become entitled to a State Pension based on her husband's contributions but only when they have both reached State Pension age and claim their State Pension.
	If she is entitled to a pension in her own right as well as one based on her husband's contributions, she will be paid at the higher rate.

Pensioner Incomes

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will update his estimates based on the Family Resources Survey 2001–02 of (a) median pensioner incomes, excluding means-tested benefits, by (i) age, (ii) sex and (iii) marital status and (b) the size of each group, consistent with his Answer of 27 June 2002, Official Report, column 1060W.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is in the table.
	
		
			  Age 60–64 Age 65–69 Age 70–74 Age 75–79 Age 80+ 
		
		
			 Single males  
			 Median income (£) n/a 161 155 145 135 
			 Number n/a 230,000 260,000 250,000 310,000 
			 Single females  
			 Median income (£) 137 142 125 118 117 
			 Number 410,000 480,000 600,000 640,000 950,000 
			 Couples  
			 Median income (£) n/a 309 264 241 224 
			 Number n/a 990,000 800,000 550,000 390,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The definition of income used here is gross income that is income gross of the following items: income tax payments, national insurance contributions, contributions to occupational and personal pension schemes, local taxes, maintenance, child support payments ands parental contributions to students living away from home.
	2. "Median income" represents the income of the person or family exactly in the middle of the range of ranked incomes of the age group. For each age group there is a wide range of incomes.
	3. The data from the Family Resources Survey 2001–02 are rounded to the nearest £1 are 10,000, money amounts are expressed in 2001–02 prices to be consistent with latest published pensioners' income series.
	4. These estimates are based on a small sample size and comparisons with 2000–01 figures given in the previous answer should therefore be made with caution.
	5. Pensioner units are allocated to age categories according to the age of the head of the unit.
	6. Estimates have not been split by gender for couples as the extent of income sharing within pensioner units is unknown.
	7. Means tested benefits refer to minimum income guarantee, working families tax credit, housing benefit and social fund grants.
	8. These results are based on survey respondents' identification of different elements of benefit income and are therefore subject to misreporting.
	9. The pensioners income series 2002–03 will be published in May 2004 which will update these figures.

Pensions

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research his Department has (a) carried out and (b) commissioned into the benefits of (i) compulsory and (ii) opt-out pension scheme membership for employees.

Malcolm Wicks: We have established the independent Pensions Commission to monitor and keep under review the voluntary system of private pensions and long term savings. Its interim report, which will describe in detail the present situation, current trends, and the challenges to be met, will be published in September. Their first full report, expected in mid 2005, will include recommendations as to whether there is a case to move beyond the current voluntary system.
	International research suggests that automatic enrolment, where new employees automatically become members of their employer's pension scheme unless they choose to opt-out, is a very effective tool for increasing pension scheme membership for employees. Over the next year we aim to research the effectiveness of this approach in delivering increased pension savings in the UK.

Worktrain Scheme

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have (a) found employment and (b) enrolled on training courses through the Worktrain scheme online in each year since the service became available.

Des Browne: The requested information is not available.
	Worktrain is an internet service for people looking for information on job vacancies, training courses, careers, childcare providers and voluntary opportunities. It is a popular service and is one of the most used government websites. It currently receives around 250,000 visitors a month. The website offers users access to the Jobcentre Plus database of 400,000 job vacancies and the learndirect database of 500,000 training opportunities.
	It is not possible for the Worktrain service to track if visitors to the site have been successful in finding a job or enrolling on a training course. An online questionnaire asks visitors if they have applied for job vacancies or training courses as a result of using the site. In 2002–03, 68 per cent. of repeat visitors who replied to the questionnaire had applied for a job and 12 per cent. applied for a training course.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Bodies/Associations

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost to public funds, including staff, is of the (a) Great Britain-China Centre, (b) British Association for Central and Eastern Europe and (c) Britain-Russia Centre in the current financial year; and when the cost of each will next be reviewed.

Jack Straw: Budgets for 2003–04 are:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 (a) Great Britain-China Centre 300,000 
			 (b) British Association for Central and Eastern Europe 252.000 
			 (c) British-Russia Centre 70,000 
		
	
	The next reviews are scheduled to take place in 2006. The budgets for 2004–05 will remain the same as this year.

Cameroon/Nigeria

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support he intends to provide in the delineation of the Cameroon/Nigeria border.

Chris Mullin: We welcome the efforts of the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative, supported by Cameroon and Nigeria, to take forward the 2002 International Court of Justice ruling on the border between Cameroon and Nigeria. HMG is actively considering a contribution to the present demarcation exercise.

European Radio Asia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with his EU counterparts the possible establishment of a European Radio Asia to broadcast to North Korea, China, Tibet and Burma.

Mike O'Brien: I have no plans at present to raise with EU partners the establishment of a European Radio Asia.
	Radio broadcasters in the UK and other EU Member States already transmit programmes into Asia, notably the BBC World Service.

Guantanamo Bay Detainees

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government will afford to UK nationals formerly detained in Guantanamo Bay who have since been freed without charge in the UK to obtain redress and compensation from the US Administration; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: I am aware of reports that the British nationals recently released from Guantanamo Bay may be intending to seek redress and compensation from the US Administration. The question of how they proceed, and whether they pursue legal action, is a matter for the men and their legal representatives.

Kosovo

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in (a) Kosovo and (b) Serbia and Montenegro.

Denis MacShane: The situation in Kosovo is calm but tense. It is important now that the leaders in Pristina and Belgrade work with the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and Kosovo Force (KFOR) to ensure that there is no repetition of last week's violence. Inter-ethnic violence is not acceptable and the perpetrators of these criminal acts must be brought to justice. We will continue to work for a stable, democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo. UNMIK and KFOR will have our complete support in working towards this end.
	There were demonstrations in Belgrade and Nis in Southern Serbia following the outbreak of violence in Kosovo. But the situation is now calm. The situation in Montenegro remained calm throughout.

Kosovo

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the final determination of the status of Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Our policy is based on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) and the formal review process of standards as endorsed by the UN in December 2003. The UK, with the rest of the international community, will work with the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, Kosovo Force and the local authorities to ensure a stable, democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo.

Kosovo

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) meetings have been held and (b) initiatives have been undertaken by (i) NATO, (ii) the EU and (iii) the United Kingdom bilaterally to achieve a settlement in Kosovo in the past two years, broken down by date; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: There have been constant discussions formally and informally in Nato, EU and bilaterally on Kosovo. I take every opportunity on visits to the region or in meetings with relevant partners in the UK or elsewhere in Europe to keep UK and international policy on Kosovo under review. My most recent discussions with Kosovan leaders took place at the recent funeral of President Trajkovski of Macedonia. I will be visiting Pristina and Belgrade again next month for further talks on finding a solution to the Kosovo question. My officials play a leading role in shaping the EU-Nato policy towards Kosovo based on the need for Kosovans to abide by international legal and human rights norms.

Laos

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between the United Kingdom and Laos.

Mike O'Brien: Our relations with Laos are not extensive. There is only modest trade between the two countries, and our contacts with the Lao Government are limited. We are keen to see the development of democracy and of the economy in Laos and, in particular, improvements in its human rights performance.
	We do not have an Embassy in Laos. Our Embassy in Bangkok is accredited to Laos, and Embassy staff visit periodically and monitor major developments there, including the human rights situation. Around 20,000 British nationals visit Laos each year. Consular facilities are kindly provided by the Australian Embassy in Vientiane.

Laos

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Laos Government regarding the treatment of Christians.

Mike O'Brien: We are aware of reports of the mistreatment of Christians in Laos. Our Embassy in Bangkok (which is accredited to Laos) monitors the situation.
	Our contacts with the Laos Government are limited, but we have raised our human rights concerns on a number of occasions either in bilateral contacts or through the European Union. Most recently, for example, in January the Deputy Head of Mission at our Embassy in Bangkok raised human rights and the persecution of Christians with HE Madam Khempheng Pholsena, the Lao Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs.
	Promotion of human rights, including freedom of thought, conscience and religion, is at the heart of our foreign policy. We condemn instances where individuals are persecuted because of their faith or belief, wherever they happen and whatever the religion of the individual or group concerned.
	We will continue to raise our concerns with the Lao authorities when opportunities arise.

Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the overall annual cost to public funds has been, including the 2.5 staff cited in the Cabinet Office publication, Public Bodies 2003, of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission; and when spending on it will next be reviewed.

Jack Straw: The overall annual cost of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission in the current financial year is £1,966,500. This budget is reviewed annually. The budget for 2004–05 will be £2,083,784.

McCann v. United Kingdom

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes have been made to the records of the Gibraltar Coroner following the European Court of Human Rights judgment in McCann v. United Kingdom.

Denis MacShane: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by the then Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the late Derek Fatchett, on 10 February 1998,Official Report, col. 114. No changes have been made to the records of the Gibraltar coroner following this judgement.

Mr. Maajid Nawaz

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government has made to the Egyptian Government since 13 January regarding Mr. Maajid Nawaz.

Chris Mullin: I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's answer of 26 January 2004, Official Report, columns 49–50W. The British Ambassador in Cairo raised our concerns about this case with the Egyptian Foreign Minister on 15 January, one of many representations we have made to the Egyptian authorities since Mr. Nawas was first detained. The case was also raised with Egyptian Government officials on 7 March.

Secondees

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the secondees from outside organisations working in his Department, stating in each case (a) the name of the person, (b) the name of the organisation, (c) the post held and (d) the start and finish dates of the secondment; and which are involved in drafting parliamentary answers.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 11 March 2004
	The list of secondees from outside organisations working in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are detailed in the following table.
	
		
			 Name Company Start Finish Job title Involved in drafting Parliamentary answers 
		
		
			 Bakhshi Hasan Bank of England 30 June 2003 30 June 2005 Deputy Head Economic Policy Department. Yes 
			 Baldwin Alan BT 26 September 1999 29 May 2004 Telecoms consultant (UK Trade and Investment London) No 
			 Ball Alexandra One North East 31 January 2004 30 April 2004 Middle Manager Commercial Team-Chongqing No 
			 Donougher Mark PWC 27 March 2002 26 March 2004 Middle Manger Global Entrepreneur Programme (UK Trade and Investment London) No 
			 Hinde Julia Michael John Trust 1 December 2001 31 May 2006 First Secretary Science and Technology Ottawa No 
			 O'Keeffe Phil AMEC 27 November 2003 27 May 2004 Middle Manager British Office Baghdad No 
			 Porter Dr. Robin KGP 13 May 2002 13 January 2006 Science and Technology Counsellor Beijing No 
			 Sands Nigel Invest Northern Ireland 30 October 2003 29 May 2004 Middle Manger Commercial Los Anseles No 
			 Adams Lew Strategic Rail Authority 1 April 2002 31 March 2004 Export—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Alien Martyn BAE Systems 4 February 2002 3 February 2005 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment ) No 
			 Bassnett Fred Raylian London Limited 25 April 2000 24 April 2004 Export Promoter (UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 David Bill Balfour Beatty Rail Limited 1 January 2002 31 December 2004 Export Promoter (UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Boswell Debbie British Jewellery and Giftware Federation 15 July 2003 14 July 2005 Export Promoter (UK Trade and Investment No 
			 Bowles Edwin Exploration Consultants Limited 2 January 2002 31 March 2004 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment ) No 
			 Chapman Jeff Dr. Combined Heat and Power Assoc. 1 April 2000 31 March 2004 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Churchward Jennifer Ernst and Young 3 February 2003 2 February 2005 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Crooks Hugh RASE 5 November 2001 28 February 2006 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Ernes Tony Mott Macdonald Group Ltd. 1 June 1999 31 May-2004 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Fawcett Paul HSBC Bank plc 1 September 2003 31 August 2005 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Fitton John Foster Wheeler Energy Ltd. 10 April 2000 2 July 2004 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Franceschi Christian (Chris) DSL Consultants Limited 18 November 2002 19 November 2004 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment ) No 
			 Holt Mark Business Link Cheshire and Warrington 18 June 2002 17 June 2004 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Hudson Robert Hyder Consulting 1 September 2001 31 August 2005 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Ireland John British Nuclear Fuels 1 September 1999 31 August 2004 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Jones Alexia Deluca 2 September 2002 31 March 2005 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment-) No 
			 McArthur Alan Middlesbrough College 27 May 2003 26 May 2005 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 MacKeown Tom Bertrams 1 March 2003 26 February 2005 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Pascoe Richard Reuters Limited 9 December 2002 9 June 2004 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment ) No 
			 Patterson Philip Association of Independent Music Ltd. 22 April 2003 22 October 2004 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Nick Peace The Newbrook Engineering Company 24 May 1999 31 May 2004 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Scott Alison Gardenex 1 December 1999 31 March 2004 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment ) No 
			 Skinner Martyn Tate and Lyle pic 10 April 2000 9 April 2004 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment ) No 
			 Sloane Robin Ova Arup 8 April 2002 9 April 2004 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment ) No 
			 Somers Jackie Traditional Weatherwear Limited 2 May 2000 1 May 2004 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment ) No 
			 Speyr von John DSL Consultants Limited 1 Oct 2002 30 September 2004 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Vaidya Anil Goldshield Pharmaceuticals Ltd 1 March 2000 28 March 2004 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Vimpany John Exhibition Consultants Ltd 1 September 2003 31 August 2005 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Waters David AMEC 2 April 2001 1 April 2004 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Watford Peter Commonwealth Business Council 1 October 2002 31 August 2004 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Williams David Gilbert Gilkes and Gordon 7 August 2000 6 August 2004 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Wilson Barbara Corgi Hosiery Limited 1 September 2001 31 August 2004 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Wilson Ed Waterkubj (UK) Ltd.—Vexamus Water Ltd. 2 September 2002 1 September 2004 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Wilson Graham AMEC Plc 3 January 2004 2 January 2006 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Wright Gordon BAE Systems plc 21 July 2003 20 July 2005 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment) No 
			 Woodhouse Tony GKN plc 1 June 1999 31 May 2004 Export Promoter—(UK Trade and Investment ) No 
		
	
	While on secondment, secondees are subject to Civil Service terms and conditions, and are expected to undertake the full range of duties attached to the post, including the provision of drafts for parliamentary questions if required.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to publish the draft Belfast metropolitan area plan.

Angela Smith: The publication date for the plan has not been finalised. The programme is currently being reviewed to ensure publication at the earliest possible date

Census Records

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the financial consequences of establishing a new (a) 80 and (b) 90-year closure period for decennial population census records for Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: No assessment has been made of the financial consequences of an 80 or 90-year closure period for decennial censuses. Censuses in 1901 and 1911 were conducted on an all-Ireland basis. These records are available in the National Archives, Dublin. The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland has microfilm of the 1901 census and intends to obtain the same for 1911. For the 1926 and later censuses conducted in Northern Ireland, the Census Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 stipulates that it is an offence to disclose personal census information without lawful authority. Officials consider that at an appropriate time the Government should consider introducing legislation to prescribe a closure period for Northern Ireland census records that is in line with the rest of the United Kingdom, where a 100-year closure period pertains.

Dentistry

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of (a) two-year-olds and (b) three to five-year-olds are registered with general dental practitioners, broken down by health board.

Angela Smith: Information on the percentage of (a) two-year-olds and (b) three to five-year-olds who are registered with general dental practitioners, broken down by health board is as follows.
	
		Children registered with General Dental Practitioners(10)—March 2004
		
			  Two-year-olds Three to five-year-olds Under three years 
		
		
			 Eastern Board
			 Number registered 3,242 15,053 5,790 
			 2002 MYE(11) 8,086 25,962 23,794 
			 Proportion registered (%) 40.1 58.0 24.3 
			 Northern Board
			 Number registered 2,259 11,201 3,996 
			 2002 MYE(11) 5,709 17,888 16,461 
			 Proportion registered (%) 39.6 62.6 24.3 
			 Southern Board
			 Number registered 1,819 8,729 3,075 
			 2002 MYE(11) 4,534 14,288 13,395 
			 Proportion registered (%) 40.1 61.1 23.0 
			 Western Board
			 Number registered 1,493 7,379 2,475 
			 2002 MYE(11) 4,059 13,215 11,900 
			 Proportion registered (%) 36.8 55.8 20.8 
			 Northern Ireland(12)
			 Number registered 8,861 42,588 15,416 
			 2002 MYE(11) 22,388 71,353 65,550 
			 Proportion registered (%) 39.6 59.7 23.5 
		
	
	(10) Source:
	Central Services Agency
	(11) Mid Year Estimates—Source: Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
	(12) The total number registered for Northern Ireland includes a small number of children in each age band who could not be allocated to a specific Health and Social Services Board

Road Safety

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many driving misdemeanours were dealt with by the Police Service of Northern Ireland from March 2003 to February 2004, broken down by (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) council area.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not recorded by parliamentary constituency. The table sets out the number of driving offence detections dealt with by police in 2003 (calendar year), by council area.
	
		
			 District councils Detections 
		
		
			 Antrim 4,720 
			 Ards 3,535 
			 Belfast 38,922 
			 Carrickfergus 1,189 
			 Castlereagh 4,249 
			 Larne 1,052 
			 Lisburn 5,833 
			 Newtownabbey 4,127 
			 North Down 3,170 
			 Urban Region 66,797 
			   
			 Armagh 2,748 
			 Ballymena 6,202 
			 Ballymoney 2,013 
			 Banbridge 3,707 
			 Coleraine 3,083 
			 Cookstown 1,469 
			 Craigavon 7,931 
			 Down 3,286 
			 Dungannon and St 3,337 
			 Fermanagh 4,062 
			 Foyle 9,009 
			 Limavady 2,184 
			 Magherafelt 2,014 
			 Moyle 207 
			 Newry and Mourne 4,369 
			 Omagh 3,983 
			 Strabane 1,564 
			   
			 Rural Region 61,168

End-of-life Vehicle Directive

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the implications of the End-of-Life Vehicle Regulations 2003 for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Department of the Environment has assessed the implications of the End of Life Vehicles Regulations 2003. Regulatory impact assessments were included in the documents "Consultation on the Transposition of Articles 4,5, 8 and 9 and Annex 2 of the End of Life Vehicles Directive (2000/53/EC)—The End of Life Vehicles Regulations 2003" and "Consultation on the Transposition of Article 6 and Annex 1 of the End of Life Vehicles Directive (2000/53/EC)-Proposals for Regulations".
	Copies of these papers have been placed in the Library.

Essential Skills Strategy

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in achieving the targets set in the Essential Skills Strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Essential Skills Strategy set a target of supporting 25,000 learners by March 2005.
	The Department has made good progress against the target with 6,500 learners supported between April 2002 and March 2003 and a further 8,000 to be supported by 31 March 2004.

Futurebuilders Fund

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements have been made to establish a Futurebuilders Fund, similar to that in England, for the voluntary and community sectors in Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: The announcement of the Futurebuilders Fund in England resulted in a consequential allocation to Northern Ireland. Such consequentials arising from allocations to programmes in England are not hypothecated to similar issues in Northern Ireland and the resources can be used to address local needs and priorities. Work is ongoing to develop proposals on how the resources might best be used to support the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland.

Gocean Development

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when a decision on the proposed £35 million development at Gocean, Killyleagh will be made; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: I intend to make a decision on this proposed development shortly.

Hospital Beds (Psychiatric Patients)

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many bed spaces are available in Northern Ireland for psychiatric patients; and if he will list the locations of these beds.

Angela Smith: The average numbers of available beds by hospital in the Mental Health Programme of Care are as follows.
	
		Average number of available beds in the Mental Health Programme of Care by hospital, 2002–03
		
			 Hospital Averageavailable beds 
		
		
			 St. Lukes 183.2 
			 Windsor House 35.7 
			 Causeway 31.1 
			 Craigavon Psychiatric Nursing Unit 80.0 
			 Downshire 122.0 
			 Lagan Valley Psychiatric Nursing Unit 25.0 
			 Gransha 70.0 
			 Forster Green 20.0 
			 Holywell 212.1 
			 Whiteabbey Psychiatric Nursing Unit 19.0 
			 Mater Infirmorum 58.6 
			 Knockbracken Healthcare Park 153.0 
			 Shaftesbury Square 18.8 
			 Young Peoples Centre 10.5 
			 Tyrone and Fermanagh 158.6 
			 Ards 25.0 
			 Northern Ireland 1,222.6

Land Use (Dundonald)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether land owned by a subsidiary of TK-ECC in Dundonald will remain zoned for industrial use only if put on the open market.

Angela Smith: I can confirm that the land in question will be retained as "existing employment/industry" in the Draft Belfast metropolitan area plan 2015.

Patient Exemption Fraud

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how far targets for the reduction of patient exemption fraud have been realised for each Northern Ireland Health Board area; and what targets have been put in place for the period beyond March.

Angela Smith: The target for the reduction of patient exemption fraud is set at Northern Ireland, rather than at an individual Health Board, level.
	My 2004–05 Priorities for Action sets a Northern Ireland target for patient fraud exemption of a 45 per cent. reduction from the 1999–2000 level by 31 March 2005.
	My Department remains committed to the achievement of this target.

Police

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many police officers there were in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: The figures requested are as follows.
	
		
			  Regular(13) Full Time Reserve Part Time Reserve 
		
		
			 1997 8,423 2,929 1,473 
			 1998 8,485 2,982 1,324 
			 1999 8,496 2,862 1,217 
			 2000 8,393 2,688 1,152 
			 2001 7,810 2,496 1,073 
			 2002 6,976 2,184 1,001 
			 2003 6,994 1,860 951 
			 2004 7,319 1,640 868 
		
	
	(13) The numbers of regular officers illustrated in the table does not include student officers.

Police

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints have been made against the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland in each year since its formation.

Jane Kennedy: The Ombudsman's Office advises that a Satisfaction Policy, Procedure and Complaints register was established in 2002. In the reporting year ending 31 March 2003 (the first full year of the register), 22 complaints were received and in the current year to date, 12 complaints have been received.

Prisons

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many suicides took place in prisons in Northern Ireland in 2003; and what steps have been taken to eliminate the risk of suicide in prisons in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: There was a total of three suicides in Northern Ireland prisons in 2003. The Northern Ireland Prison Service has been reviewing its procedures in an effort to reduce the number of incidences of self-harm and suicide. A new policy entitled "Self Harm and Suicide Prevention Management" will be implemented on 29 March 2003.

Prisons

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures have been put in place to assess vulnerable inmates in prisons in Northern Ireland who are at risk of suicide; and what measures he is taking to protect those who have been assessed as being at risk of suicide in prison.

Jane Kennedy: Every prisoner on first committal to prison is examined by a member of the health care staff who will carry out an initial assessment of the possibility that they are at risk of self-harm or suicide. If the health care staff member has concerns about the prisoner, they will either formally notify the senior officers managing the House in which the prisoner is placed or alternatively will immediately place the prisoner in the Healthcare Unit. If the prisoner is located in a House one of the senior officers will immediately interview the prisoner. In Maghaberry Prison, each House also has an individual nurse officer allocated to it and the nurse will be involved in the on-going support for the prisoner. In either case, a medical officer will then examine the prisoner at the first available opportunity when a care plan will be prepared.
	On a day-to-day basis, there is a formal procedure by which any member of staff, who is concerned that a prisoner is at risk of self-harm or suicide, can initiate an assessment. All prison staff are involved in providing support to prisoners who are deemed to be at risk. Health care support is provided through full-time and part-time medical officers, general practitioners, consultant forensic psychiatrists, specialist registrars in mental health and health care staff—a large number of whom have nurse qualifications with a significant proportion having a mental health qualification.

Road Taxes

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much revenue was raised from (a) road tax licences and (b) road fuel tax in Northern Ireland in each of the last two years.

Angela Smith: The revenue raised in Northern Ireland from road tax licences for the calendar year 2002 was £112,800,934 and for 2003, £124,646,824.
	Road fuel tax is collected on a United Kingdom wide basis and separate figures are not available for Northern Ireland.

Security Costs

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of how security costs have changed since the Northern Ireland peace process began.

Jane Kennedy: There have been many positive changes to security since the peace process began ranging from reductions in army bases to changes associated with implementing the Patten report on policing. Given the wide range of such changes it would be difficult to determine security savings without a significant costing exercise that would incur disproportionate cost.

Speaker's Office

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of the Speaker's Office in the Northern Ireland Assembly has been since 1998.

John Spellar: Expenditure on the Office of the Speaker from 1 April 1999 to 29 February 2004 is £834,666 for staff costs and £108,266 for general administration costs. Figures prior to 1 April 1999 are not available as the then New Northern Ireland Assembly was developing its financial systems and expenditure could not be identified against specific cost centres.

Terrorism

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the terrorist (a) actions, (b) beatings and (c) abductions in Northern Ireland since 1 January; and to which terrorist group the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland has attributed responsibility in each case.

Jane Kennedy: The following table provides details of paramilitary activity since 1 January this year attributed to Loyalist and Republican groups. It is not possible to give an accurate assessment of the number of abductions as often victims of such crime do not co-operate with the police. The Chief Constable has stated publicly that he believes persons connected with the Provisional IRA were involved in the abduction of a male in Belfast earlier this month.
	
		Security Situation Statistics for Northern Ireland 1January—29February 2004
		
			  Perceived Attribution(14) 
			  By Loyalist By Republican 
		
		
			 Number of deaths(15) — — 
			 Number of shooting incidents3 22 15 
			 Number of bombing incidents(17) 2 3 
			 Casualties as a result of paramilitary style assaults 13 10 
			 Casualties as a result of paramilitary shootings 22 11 
		
	
	(14) Attribution is as perceived by the PSNI based on the information available
	(15) Includes all deaths due to the security situation
	(16) The following types of incidents are included:
	Shots fired by terrorists
	Paramilitary-style attacks involving shootings
	Shots heard (and later confirmed)
	Other violent incidents where shots are fired (eg armed robbery)
	(17) An individual bombing incident may involve one or more explosive devices. Incidents recorded include explosions and defusings. Incidents involving hoax devices, petrol bombings or incendaries are excluded.
	Statistics are provisional and may be subject to minor amendment.

Terrorism

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people there are on the mainland UK exiled from Northern Ireland because of threats from terrorist organisations; and what the cost is to public funds in 2003–04 of such people.

Angela Smith: There are no official figures on the number of people exiled from Northern Ireland as a result of paramilitary intimidation as not all incidents are reported. The needs of exiles are examined in detail in the Legacy Report, an independent needs analysis of victims of the Troubles living in Great Britain. One of the major contributors to this research was Maranatha, a Christian community that has considerable experience in this area. Maranatha estimates that around four people per month are exiled from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.
	Assistance to exiles is provided across a number of agencies both statutory and voluntary. However, in the absence of official figures, it is not possible to quantify the cost to public funds.

Waste Management

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in place in Northern Ireland to ensure compliance with the EU Directive regarding the disposal of fridges and freezers; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Department of the Environment has been working in partnership with District Councils in Northern Ireland to put in place a contract to dispose of waste fridges and freezers collected from Council civic amenity sites.
	The contractor operates a fully licensed facility in Great Britain, where the waste units are demanufactured, removing and destroying the ozone depleting substances they contain, in line with the requirements of the EU Regulation, while recycling almost all of the remainder of the constituent parts.
	The use of a smart tagging system, together with independent monthly checks on the amount of ODS recovered; provide an end-to-end audit trail to demonstrate full compliance with the EU Regulation.
	All the Councils in Northern Ireland have signed up to the contract and work has begun on removing the backlog of waste units.

Waste Management

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to implement waste management plans in Northern Ireland, broken down by each area; and if he will make a statement

Angela Smith: The three District Council Waste Management Partnership Groups (arc 21, Swamp and North West Region Waste Management Group) have prepared Implementation Action Plans (IAPs), which have been submitted to the Department of the Environment. These Plans detail the steps and expenditure required to implement the Waste Management Plan for each group. The Department has provided guidance to the District Councils on Key Performance Indicators to monitor progress towards the key targets identified in the Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy. The IAPs are the subject of ongoing review to ensure that appropriate measures are implemented to meet these key targets.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Members' Staff (Pensions)

John Gummer: To ask the Leader of the House 
	(1)  how many hon. Members' staff have yet to be notified of an adjudication by ProAct, on behalf of the House's Department of Finance and Administration, that a decision has been made regarding the recipient pension scheme of their entitled pension contribution;
	(2)  what arrangements are being made by the Department of Finance and Administration in the House to assist those hon. Members' staff who wish to transfer their accumulated fund from the Portcullis Pension Plan to another pension provider on an annual basis;
	(3)  how many adjudications of hon. Members' staff pension arrangements have been made by ProAct in favour of their existing arrangements rather than the Portcullis Pension Plan;
	(4)  how many hon. Members' staff have had their pension arrangements changed by the Department of Finance and Administration via the default arrangements recommended by ProAct;
	(5)  how many weeks' notice will be given to hon. Members' staff of any changes to their existing pension arrangements, as adjudicated by ProAct, before the Department of Finance and Administration ceases to honour the existing arrangements;
	(6)  how many adjudications of hon. Members' staff pensions have yet to be decided upon by ProAct on behalf of the Department of Finance and Administration;
	(7)  when he expects the adjudication process of hon. Members' staff pensions, by ProAct on behalf of the Department of Finance and Administration to be completed;
	(8)  how many hon. Members' staff registered a preference to remain with their existing pension provider.

Peter Hain: The information requested is as follows, and is based on 16 March 2004.
	ProAct are the Independent Financial Advisers who have been assisting the Speaker and the advisory Committee on Members Estimate (formerly known as the Speaker's Advisory Panel) with the setting-up of the Portcullis Pension Plan (the plan).
	They provide an impartial professional assessment, in accordance with regulatory guidelines, of whether an individual would be better off remaining in their current pension arrangement, or having future contributions paid to the plan.
	The Department of Finance & Administration are responsible for implementing the advice given by ProAct to the House.
	I am delighted to confirm that the introduction of the plan (a group stakeholder arrangement) has seen take-up for the 10 per cent. pension supplement move from 49 per cent. as at February 2003 to a nigh-on 100 per cent. take-up rate as of 16 March.
	I would like to thank ProAct Financial Planning, CMS Cameron McKenna and members of the Department of Finance & Administration for all their efforts and assistance in helping this major project reach such a highly successful conclusion.
	The right hon. Member will be aware that all Members were advised a full year ago of the proposals, by e-mail and in hard copy, and were sent questionnaires to give to their staff for forwarding to current pension providers and/or professional advisers. Staff who are on e-mail were similarly advised at the same time. It was not possible to write to home addresses at that time because the Payroll System then in place could not generate individual address labels. This has since been rectified.
	A deadline of October 2003 was given originally, but this was subsequently extended to 31 March 2004. Relevant information was circulated to all Members and to home addresses of employees during September and October 2003. It was made clear that 31 March 2004 was the final deadline, although changes will not be effective until April's payroll run two weeks later. There are no plans to extend this again. Members' staff have already had 12 months in which to submit their questionnaires, and ProAct have dealt with these in a commendably prompt and efficient manner.
	However, an exception will be made where employees submitted questionnaires in good time but ProAct will be unable to complete the assessment by the deadline because the further information they require was not supplied in a timely fashion by the current pension provider.
	Members' staff have been advised by ProAct of the outcome of every questionnaire where the assessment has been finalised. In 49 cases, further information has been sought from the current pension provider. Final answers cannot be given until the relevant further information has been supplied to and assessed by ProAct.
	ProAct have now confirmed that all Members and their employees, who have requested a "memory prompt" will be sent an annual e-mail by ProAct. This reminder will be sent out at a time when the House is sitting (on or around 31 January each year), thus ensuring that employees should be around to act on it and consider whether to top up their pension before the end of the tax year, if they wish to do so.
	For 2004–05 only, the reminder will be sent at the beginning of December 2004 to give any employee wishing to use "carry back" time to pay a contribution before this facility is abolished on 31 January 2005.
	Contributions for at least 131 staff of Members will (if the employee so wishes) continue to be paid to current arrangements. At least 131 staff wish to have contributions made to their pre-Portcullis pension arrangement. This includes employees who: are currently contributing to a pension arrangement that has terms that, when assessed in accordance with regulatory guidelines, are at least as good as those offered by the plan—only 30 employees fall into this category; are currently contributing to a pension arrangement that cannot accept transfers from the plan—certain cases, detailed in a letter to all Members and their employees on 16 March 2004, are being revisited now that current pension providers/advisers have admitted they gave incorrect or incomplete information in respect of the ability to make annual transfers from the plan to the current pension arrangement, so the number in this group may increase; were born on or before 1 October 1946 (this is based on reaching the age of 60 by the latest possible date for the next general election, plus four months for any "handover") and who have confirmed that they expect to retire at the next general election. Employees in the latter category had a free choice as to whether they wished future contributions to be paid to the plan or their current pension arrangement, and as such their position was not necessarily assessed by ProAct
	Furthermore, many people who already had pension arrangements before the plan was introduced are now having future contributions paid to the plan. They now have the benefit of much more flexible contract terms—in particular, lower charges, thus increasing the amount of cash available for investment towards their retirement. Proper regard has been taken of those who may wish to keep their existing pension arrangements going, especially those who are very close to retirement.
	In addition, the majority of employees of hon. Members now have death in service cover of twice basic pay. For some time there has been considerable interest in such a benefit, particularly from employees with young families, and we are very pleased that this arrangement is now in place.
	Of the 275 questionnaires received, ProAct have recommended that 175 employees should have future contributions paid to the plan. It is entirely up to the employee as to whether the default option comes into play. They are fully entitled to choose whether their funds are invested wholly with AXA or Norwich Union, or split (as the employee directs) between the two. The employee is also able to stipulate that funds other than the default funds should be used. If the employee later changes their mind, they can switch between AXA and Norwich Union, and also invest in different funds with these two insurers.
	ProAct currently have 49 questionnaires to assess. This does not represent any tardiness on their part. The apparent delay is because ProAct have felt unable to complete their impartial assessment without seeking further information from the current pension provider.
	As advised to Members and their employees, subject to ProAct receiving all outstanding information, the deadline is 31 March 2004. However, an exception will be made where employees submitted questionnaires in good time but ProAct will be unable to complete the assessment by the deadline because the further information they require was not supplied in a timely fashion by the current pension provider.
	ProAct is currently contacting or recontacting all the personal providers to whom contributions were being paid until the advent of the plan. If any of the providers are found to have given incomplete or misleading information about annual transfers, and such transfers are not in fact possible, the individuals concerned will be offered the chance to have future contributions paid to their current arrangement. Accordingly, this number may increase.
	Some staff initially indicated that they would like to stay with their previous pension arrangements, but when they understood the true costs and charges associated with these older style contracts, the majority were grateful for ProAct's helpful responses and were content to join the plan.
	A small number of staff would still prefer to remain in their previous arrangement, but it would be misleading to suggest that this number can be precisely quantified.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Domestic Violence

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister for Women how many reported incidents of domestic violence there were in the Vale of York on 1 January; and if she will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: I have been asked to reply.
	Domestic violence is not separately identified in the recorded crime statistics collected by the Home Office or in the statistics of court proceedings. However, the British Crime Survey (BCS) routinely collects data on the prevalence and number of incidents of domestic violence in England and Wales from the main "face-to-face" part of the survey. In the 2002–03 BCS, the rate of domestic violence in England and Wales as a whole was 120 per 10,000 adults, and 113 in Yorkshire and Humberside. The BCS is unable to provide domestic violence data at more local levels.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Affordable Housing

Mark Hoban: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the potential use of Government-owned sites in Fareham for affordable housing.

Keith Hill: The Government wishes to see better use made of all surplus public sector land, including any in Fareham, which includes the provision of more affordable housing. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's progress report on delivering the Government's sustainable communities programme (July 2003) set out the importance attached to this policy and the new arrangements being established for dealing with disposals of such land.

Affordable Housing

Tom Brake: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what investment his Department (a) has allocated and (b) plans to allocate to increase the supply of affordable housing in Sutton in each year since 1997, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Keith Hill: The funding for provision of new affordable housing in Sutton in the period 1997–98 to 2003–04 is tabled as follows. (ADP is investing in housing through Housing Corporation.) Allocations for 2004–05 and 2005–06 will be announced shortly.
	
		£ million
		
			  Approved development programme Local authority social housing grant 
		
		
			 1997–98 2.0 0.8 
			 1998–99 1.8 0.6 
			 1999–2000 2.6 2.2 
			 2000–01 4.9 3.2 
			 2001–02 4.4 2.5 
			 2002–03 2.3 2.3 
			 2003–04 13.9 2.6

Building Regulations

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will amend the Approved Inspector Regulations 2000, to allow private practice building regulation control companies other than the National House Building Confederation to control the construction of dwellings for sale or rent.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends to issue in the next few weeks a consultation document on designation of new home warranty schemes in the context of building control by approved inspectors. Subject to the outcome of that consultation process, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister hopes, later this year, to be able to take the necessary steps to allow approved inspectors to undertake building control on new homes for sale or private sector renting.

English Channel

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is in respect of the removal of aggregates from the Median Deep section of the English Channel.

Keith Hill: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is currently considering a proposal to dredge marine aggregates from an area known as Median Deep within the eastern English Channel. This proposal is one of a number of other similar ones within this part of the Channel that he has before him and which have been subjected to wide publicity and consultation.
	My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister will determine each marine minerals dredging proposal in the light of all material environmental information, including the findings of an Environmental Impact Assessment, and his general approach to marine minerals dredging set out in 'Marine Minerals Guidance Note 1: Guidance on the Extraction by Dredging of Sand, Gravel and Other Minerals from the English Sea bed' (MMG1). This was published in July 2002 and copies were placed in the House of Commons Library. Copies may also be downloaded from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website at www.odpm.gov.uk or obtained from Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

Compulsory Purchase Orders

Mark Hoban: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the basis of valuations to be used for compulsory purchase orders when the land to be acquired is designated for road building.

Keith Hill: Irrespective of the purpose for which land is being acquired under compulsory purchase powers, its value has to be assessed in accordance with the compensation code set out in Part 2 of the Land Compensation Act 1961 and supplemented by case law. Where the acquiring authority and the vendor are unable to agree the amount payable on that basis, the matter falls to be settled by the Lands Tribunal in accordance with the provisions of Part 1 of the same Act.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which local authorities in London have used the funding from the Homelessness Directorate in support of their local homelessness strategies to pay cash incentives to social rented sector tenants to relinquish their tenancy and buy a property on the open market; how much funding was used for this purpose, and how many homes were released for reletting, in each case.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 11 March 2004, Official Report, column 1708W, which states that authorities have considerable discretion over how they use the grant, provided that they deliver the required outcomes. Details of all the individual services by each local authority are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Housing

Charles Hendry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance he gives to local authorities on the approval of requests for extensions to domestic residences.

Keith Hill: Extensions to domestic residences within certain limits are permitted under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. Outside those limits, it is for local authorities to assess applications in the light of their development plans, any design guidance they have issued, the comments of third parties (if relevant to planning) and any other relevant factors. The Government's planning policies make clear that applicants should be able to demonstrate how they have taken account of the need for good design. Good practice guidance on achieving high standards is set out in 'By Design', the companion guide to Planning Policy Guidance Note 1, which is on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website at www.odpm.gov.uk.

Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) surveys he has commissioned and (b) research he has evaluated about the preferences of council tenants as to whether their housing should be managed by (i) the council, (ii) registered social landlords and (iii) arm's length management organisations.

Keith Hill: There has been no research conducted by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the preferences of council tenants for alternative options for housing management. Each stock owning Local Authority, through its Options Appraisal process, will consult the views of tenants on alternative arrangements for management of their housing stock.

Housing

Tom Brake: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what house building targets there have been for Sutton since 1997, broken down by parliamentary constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: House building targets are set for local authority areas. "Strategic Guidance for London Planning Authorities", Regional Planning Guidance 3, May 1996, proposed for Sutton a minimum 5,400 net additional dwellings over 15years, 1992 to 2006. This target was included in Sutton's replacement Unitary Development Plan (UDP) adopted in 2003. "The London Spatial Development Strategy (The London Plan)", published February 2004, set a minimum target for Sutton of 7,400 additional homes over 20 years, 1997 to 2016. This target derives from "London's Housing Capacity", Greater London Authority 2000, endorsed by boroughs through the London Planning Advisory Committee. As borough UDPs are reviewed or replaced, they will have to be in general conformity with "The London Plan".

Housing

Frank Dobson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the turnout of tenants and leaseholders was in each of the arm's length management organisation votes in the last 12 months.

Keith Hill: The turnout and percentage vote in favour in all ballots held by local authorities on arm's length management organisation proposals to date are tabled as follows. All the ballots in Rounds 3 and 4, plus Colchester's in Round 2, were held in the last 12 months.
	
		Percentage
		
			 Local authority Turnout In favour 
		
		
			 ALMO Round 1   
			 Derby 48 88 
			 Hounslow 35 83 
			 Kirklees 47 81 
			 Rochdale 46 90 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 44 93 
			
			 ALMO Round 2   
			 Barnsley 25 57 
			 Carrick 61 96 
			 Colchester 57 76 
			 Leeds—East 35 83 
			 Leeds—North East 41 88 
			 Leeds—North West 42 89 
			 Leeds—South 39 91 
			 Leeds—South East 40 88 
			 Leeds—West 38 90 
			 Waltham Forest 49 85 
			
			 ALMO Round 3   
			 Camden 30 23 
			 High Peak 60 98 
			 Islington 27 85 
			 Sheffield: Brightside and Shiregreen 42 78 
			 Sheffield: Central Area 47 87 
			 South Lakeland 65 88 
			
			 ALMO Round 4—bids   
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 40 81 
			 Sheffield: Hillsborough, Nether Thorpe 45 87 
			 Sheffield: Parson Cross, Foxhill, Longley 38 94 
			 Sheffield: Westfield, Hackenthorpe 43 89

Local Authority Statistics

Paul Truswell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list all local authorities, broken down by (a) type and (b) party political control.

Phil Hope: The information is as follows:
	
		
			 Local Authorities  
		
		
			 County Councils (18)34  
			 London Boroughs (19)33  
			 Metropolitan District 36 
			 District Councils 238 
			 Shire Unitary authorities (20)46 
			 Isles of Scilly 1 
			 Total (England) 388 
			   
			 Wales(21) 22 
			 Scotland(21) 29 
			 Island councils 3 
			 Northern Ireland 26 
		
	
	(18) Not including Isle of Wight unitary county
	(19) Includes City of London
	(20) Including Isle of Wight
	(21) Unitary districts
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not systematically collect and maintain comprehensive and up-to-date information on changes in the party political control in individual local authorities.

New Deal for Communities

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library each New Deal for Communities delivery plan.

Yvette Cooper: All 39 New Deal for Communities Partnership's delivery plans have been made available in the Library of the House.

Ordnance Survey

Boris Johnson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what factors underlay the decision to use uncompleted Ordnance Survey data in the Pan Government Agreement for Central Government.

Yvette Cooper: The Pan Government Agreement (PGA) is a non-binding internal arrangement between two Crown bodies, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Ordnance Survey (OS). Accordingly, the PGA is not a contract necessitating competition through prior advertisement in accordance with the European Commission public procurement Directives.
	The PGA has been a tremendous success, increasing the number of central government organisations utilising geographic information from 40 to in excess of 120. Without this, it would be impossible to deliver on 2005 Modernising Government targets or to offer many citizen-based services. The success of the pilot of the PGA was noted by the Transport, Local Government and the Regions Committee's tenth report on the OS, which contained the following statement:
	"The Committee recommends that the Government provides funding for a long-term Pan Government Service Level Agreement to ensure widespread use of Ordnance Survey data across Government, so as to ensure the Government gets the best value for money. This should be done by the start of the 2003–04 financial year."
	In comparison to the cost of previous agreements and the much more limited use of geographic information they provided, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister believes that the PGA offers very good value for money for government.

Public Toilets

Tom Levitt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidelines his Department issues to local authorities in respect of minimum standards for the (a) provision, (b) distribution and (c) maintenance of public toilets; and what guidelines are issued regarding public consultation on public toilets.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not provide any guidance to local authorities on the provision, distribution or maintenance of public toilets, or on the need to consult on this service. These functions are at the discretion of local authorities who have a power, but no duty, to provide public conveniences under section 87 of the Public Health Act 1936.

Recruitment Advertising

Pete Wishart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his Department's expenditure on recruitment advertising was in each of the last three years, broken down by publication; and what proportion of such expenditure was (a) to advertise vacant posts and (b) in the form of other general recruitment advertising.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bromsgrove (Miss Kirkbride) on 17 February 2004, Official Report, column 23W.

Regeneration Partnerships

Louise Ellman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many community and resident representatives have resigned from positions in regeneration partnerships over the past three years; and what assessment he has made of their reasons.

Yvette Cooper: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. There are a very large number of regeneration partnerships in existence across the country and there is no central record of how many there are, or of their membership. Many are locally established and have no central Government involvement.

Regeneration Partnerships

Louise Ellman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the adequacy of current arrangements for payments made to residents and community representatives involved in regeneration programmes.

Yvette Cooper: The Government welcomes and values the contributions that residents and community representatives make to regeneration partnerships. The arrangements for making any payments to those community representatives who are involved in regeneration programmes vary, depending on the programme and the nature of their involvement. If there are issues relating to the arrangements for a regeneration programme for which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is responsible that my hon. Friend wishes to bring to my attention, then I would be happy to look into them.

Small Business Support

Brian Cotter: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the support programmes for small businesses that (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have financed in each of the last five years; how much money was allocated for each scheme in each year; how much money has gone unclaimed under each scheme; and how many small businesses have benefited from each scheme.

Yvette Cooper: The Cross-cutting review of government services for small business, published by the Small Business Service in December 2002 contained information on the services available to small businesses. This reported that the Government spends about £2.5 billion on a wide range of services for small firms. Further details can be found at the Small Business Service website at: http://www.sbs.gov.uk/crosscutting/default.php.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Annual Report 2003 published in May 2003 (Cm 5906) contains details of the Office's programmes, a number of which would be available to support the work of small businesses.
	The specific information asked for on individual schemes is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Social Housing (Greater London)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent on (a) maintenance and (b) repair of social rented housing in Greater London in each year since 1997.

Keith Hill: Local authorities provide data on council housing to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister but no consistent figures on expenditure on maintenance and repair are available. Local authorities can use both capital and revenue expenditure on maintenance and repair of their own stock but the returns from London boroughs on capital expenditure include work on improvements, renewal, conversions and adaptations.
	The Housing Corporation keep records of maintenance and repair costs for social rented properties in the housing association sector, but on an individual Registered Social Landlord basis only. No figures are therefore available for individual boroughs or London as a whole and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Freight (Theft)

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has held with the British International Freight Association regarding measures to reduce the incidence of theft of personal items during transit.

Hazel Blears: I have not held any discussions with the British International Freight Association regarding measures to reduce the incidence of theft of personal items during transit.

Primates

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licensed scientific experiments have been undertaken on primates in the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is shown in table 20 of Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain, 2002, and table 1 of Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Northern Ireland, 1993–2002, copies of which are in the Library.
	For ease of reference the numbers of procedures performed for the first time on primates each year are shown in the table.
	
		Numbers of procedures
		
			  Great Britain Northern Ireland 
		
		
			 1993 4,994 — 
			 1994 5,163 — 
			 1995 4,721 — 
			 1996 4,374 — 
			 1997 3,908 — 
			 1998 3,655 — 
			 1999 4,003 — 
			 2000 3,690 — 
			 2001 3,986 — 
			 2002 3,977 —

"Reducing Crime—Changing Lives"

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation took place with key stakeholders prior to the publication of the document Reducing Crime—Changing Lives; and whether trade unions were consulted.

Paul Goggins: Reducing Crime—Changing Lives sets out the Government's initial response to the Carter report.
	The Home Secretary has sought and continues to seek views from all stakeholders on a number of issues relating to the effective management of offenders.

"Reducing Crime—Changing Lives"

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to publicise the role of the (a) voluntary and (b) private sector in the delivery of justice following the publication of the Carter Report; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The Government's response to Patrick Carter's report "Managing Offenders—Reducing Crime" was outlined in the Government paper "Reducing Crime—Changing Lives" both of which were published on 6 January 2004.
	The "Reducing Crime—Changing Lives" document sets out the Government's proposals for the reform of correctional services and seeks views from key stakeholders on a number of implementation issues including how best to ensure effective community involvement and improve contestability in the new National Offender Management Service.
	The Government will analyse the responses to those questions and make them available, unless the respondent has requested confidentiality.

Anti-terrorism (Overseas Evidence)

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the admissibility of (a) hearsay evidence and (b) written evidence from abroad in relation to prosecutions under anti-terrorism legislation.

David Blunkett: holding answer 22 March 2004
	Prosecutions under counter terrorist legislation are conducted in the same way as other prosecutions and the same rules on the admissibility of evidence apply, including the law on hearsay. At present, written statements from witnesses abroad who are unable to attend the trial, may be admitted as evidence if certain conditions are met. When implemented, the Criminal Justice Act 2003 provides that witness statements will generally be admissible in any criminal proceedings where a witness is abroad, subject to certain safeguards.

Cargo Theft

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidences of cargo theft were reported by contracted shipping delivery companies in each year between 1997 and 2003.

Hazel Blears: The requested information is not collected centrally by the Home Office.

Child Abuse

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he gives to chief constables on the secondment of police officers who specialise in (a) internet and (b) non internet child abuse to other types of police activity.

Paul Goggins: There are no specific arrangements for seconding officers to this area of work. The deployment of police officers to specific posts is an operational matter for Chief Officers.

Child Abuse

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with internet service providers who refuse to keep the internet addresses of customers after they change ISP and the effect of this on the tracking of online predators.

Paul Goggins: There has been considerable consultation with the Internet Industry over the last two years about retention of their business data. The Industry continues this dialogue. We are keeping Internet Service Providers data retention practices under review in consultation with the Industry.

Coroners

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he requires that bodies be released by hospitals immediately without precondition or delay once they are no longer required by a coroner for evidential purposes.

Paul Goggins: Once the coroner has released the body it is for the representatives of the deceased, working with the hospital, to arrange transfer of the body to its final resting place.

Corruption

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the actions the UK needs to take to ratify the UN Convention Against Corruption; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

Caroline Flint: Officials of the responsible Government Departments are considering what, if any, legislative or administrative amendments are required to enable the UK to meet its commitments under the Convention. Should any amendments be required, these will be enacted or put in place at the earliest opportunity. It is not possible to indicate when this process will be completed. The UK will be in a position to ratify the Convention once the Government are satisfied that the UK can fulfil the Convention's provisions.

Crime

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the percentage change in (a) overall recorded crime, (b) recorded violent crime, (c) burglaries and (d) vehicle thefts in Crosby has been since 1997.

Hazel Blears: Recorded crime statistics below police force area level are collected on a Basic Command Unit (BCD) and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) basis. BCD areas equate to former police divisions/districts, with CDRPs equating to local authority areas.
	The constituency of Crosby is not specified as being either a BCD or CDRP, however there is data available at these levels for the area of Sefton, which is located within the borough constituency of Crosby. Figures at these levels are available for 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2002–03. Data for six key offences only has been previously published at CDRP level for these years and are given in the table.
	A greater breakdown of recorded crime figures for 2002–03 by CDRP, police force and region has recently been made available and is given in the Home Office website at www.crimestatistics.org.uk/output/page1.asp.
	
		Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership data from April 1999 to March 2003
		
			 CDRP: Sefton Force: Merseyside 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03(22) 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 2,034 2,307 2,225 3,016 
			 Sexual offences 156 148 130 185 
			 Robbery 288 224 346 334 
			 Burglary dwelling 1,712 1,528 2,269 2,533 
			 Theft of a motor vehicle 2,285 2,014 1.926 1,542 
			 Theft from a vehicle 2,250 1,852 2,009 1,629 
		
	
	(22) Merseyside police implemented the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) on 1 April 2002. Broadly, the NCRS had the effect of increasing the number of crimes recorded by the police. Therefore, following the introduction of the Standard, numbers of recorded crimes are not directly.

Crime

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many violent crimes were committed in (a) the London Borough of Havering and (b) Romford in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the level of crime in (a) the London Borough of Havering and (b) Romford which is drug related.

Hazel Blears: Recorded crime statistics below police force area level are collected on a basic command unit (BCD) basis. In London, BCD areas equate to London boroughs. The total number of violent crimes (violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery offence groups) recorded in Havering BCU in 2002–03 was 4,558. The Metropolitan police introduced the National Crime Recording Standard on 1 April 2002, and this may have increased the number of crimes recorded in the violence against the person offence group.
	Recorded crime data is collected by offence type, rather than by particular circumstance. It is therefore not possible to distinguish drug related crime within recorded crime figures.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the role of the Criminal Cases Review Commission in seeking views on (a) controversial expert evidence and (b) investigative methods;
	(2)  what procedure is used by the Criminal Cases Review Commission if it suspects that (a) a body of evidence and (b) an investigative method is flawed.

Paul Goggins: The commission treats every application received on its individual merits. Cases regularly raise issues involving expert evidence and investigative methods. Where necessary the commission instructs a professionally qualified person to give a view on the expert evidence or the investigative method, and such further evidence is taken into account when a decision is made on the case. In some circumstances it may be appropriate for the Commission to ask for further evidence on a particular issue which is common to several cases.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research has been conducted into the motives of solicitors who submit large numbers of applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

Paul Goggins: No research has been conducted into the motives of solicitors who submit large number of applications to the Commission. Some firms of solicitors specialise in this area and so it is not unexpected that several applications every year will come from them. To date the Commission has not received a large number of applications at the same time from any individual solicitor or firm. It continues to receive applications unsupported by legal representation.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the findings of the Criminal Cases Review Commission's Working Group on Sexual Abuse were.

Paul Goggins: The "findings" of the Criminal Cases Review Commission's Working Group on Sexual Abuse enabled the Commission to analyse and refine it's approach to child sexual abuse cases generally, to help it establish best practice, to investigate developments that might discover new evidence in such cases and communicate any lessons obtained internally and to other stakeholders.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what process is used for recruiting members of the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

Paul Goggins: Members of the Criminal Cases Review Commission are appointed by Her Majesty the Queen on the recommendation of my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister. New members are recruited in accordance with the Code of Practice for Public Appointments issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointment. The process includes:
	open advertising of the posts
	an initial sift of applications by external recruitment consultants
	short-listing and interview by a panel comprising of the Director of Criminal Law and Policy of the Home Office, the Chairman of the Commission and an Independent Assessor
	consultation with interested Ministers (including the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland) and the Cabinet Office's Public Appointment Unit.

Criminal Justice Act

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring section 144 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 into force as a matter of urgency.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 4 March 2004
	The Sentencing Advisory Panel has recently consulted on the reduction of sentence for a guilty plea with a view to proposing to the Sentencing Guidelines Council that it should make a guideline in this area. We consider that it would be sensible to await the outcome of this work before making a final decision on the commencement of section 144 of the 2003 Act.

Dogs Act

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were required to provide DNA samples as a result of (a) enquiries and (b) convictions in connection with section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 in (i) Wales and (ii) England in (A) 2001, (B) 2002 and (C) 2003.

Hazel Blears: Under section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 a Magistrates' Court may make an order for a dog to be kept under proper control or for the destruction of the dog. The section does not create an offence.
	The powers contained in Section 63 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (as amended) enable the police to take a non-intimate DNA sample without consent from a person held in police detention who has been charged with, informed they will be reported for or convicted of an offence and they apply only in respect of recordable offences. Since section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 does not create an offence, there are no legal powers to take a DNA sample in these circumstances.

Dogs Act

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were required to attend a police station to provide fingerprints and photographs after being found guilty under section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 in (a) Wales and (b) England in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003.

Hazel Blears: Under section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 a Magistrates' Court may make an order for a dog to be kept under proper control or for the destruction of the dog. The section does not create an offence.
	The powers under sections 27 and 61 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984, (as amended), to take fingerprints without consent from convicted persons are restricted to persons who have been convicted for a recordable offence.
	Recordable offences are those which have to be recorded on the Police National Computer to form part of a person's criminal record. They are set out in the National Police records (Recordable Offences) Regulations 2000 (SI 2000 No 1139) (as amended). They include convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings given in respect of an offence punishable with imprisonment and any offence specified in the Schedule to the regulations.
	Under section 64A(1) of PACE, a constable or designated person may photograph a person detained at a police station with or without that person's consent. Where there are reasonable grounds for suspecting the involvement of a person in a criminal offence, but that person is at a police station voluntarily and not detained, there are no powers to take fingerprints or photograph that person without consent.

Dogs Act

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were required to provide fingerprints and photographs when attending a police station in connection with a possible offence relating to section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 in (a) Wales and (b) England in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003.

Hazel Blears: Under section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 a Magistrates' Court may make an order for a dog to be kept under proper control or for the destruction of the dog. The section does not create an offence.
	The powers under sections 27 and 61 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984, (as amended), to take fingerprints without consent from convicted persons are restricted to persons who have been convicted for a recordable offence.
	Recordable offences are those which have to be recorded on the Police National Computer to form part of a person's criminal record. They are set out in the National Police records (Recordable Offences) Regulations 2000 (SI 2000 No 1139) (as amended). They include convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings given in respect of an offence punishable with imprisonment and any offence specified in the Schedule to the regulations.
	Under section 64A(1) of PACE, a constable or designated person may photograph a person detained at a police station with or without that person's consent. Where there are reasonable grounds for suspecting the involvement of a person in a criminal offence, but that person is at a police station voluntarily and not detained, there are no powers to take fingerprints or photograph that person without consent.

Dogs Act

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions were carried out under section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 in (a) Wales and (b) England in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003.

Hazel Blears: Defendants proceeded against and those convicted of offences under Section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 are grouped together with those dealt with for offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1989 in the information collected centrally and cannot be separately identified.
	The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under these two statutes, for England and Wales separately for 2001 and 2002 is contained in the table.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts' and found guilty at all courts under section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 and the Dangerous Dogs Act 1989, England and Wales 2001 and 2002(23)
		
			  Proceeded against Found guilty 
		
		
			 2001   
			 England 306 76 
			 Wales 69 25 
			 Total 375 101 
			 2002   
			 England 279 84 
			 Wales 57 21 
			 Total 336 105 
		
	
	(23) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	Statistics on court proceedings for 2003 will be published in the Autumn.

Domestic Violence

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much public funding has been provided to front-line domestic violence agencies in Crosby since 1997.

David Blunkett: This information is not available. However, Crosby falls under the remit of Sefton's Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership.
	Since April 2003 the Home Department has allocated £62,600 to Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships. In November 2003, £17,600 from this funding was provided to aid front-line domestic violence agencies in Sefton. The funding will run until March 2006.

Drug Abuse (Avon and Somerset)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent in the Avon and Somerset police force area in 2003–04 to combat drug abuse.

Caroline Flint: Financial information is not maintained in a form that shows the proportion of mainstream funding allocated specifically to combating drug misuse in the Avon and Somerset police force area. However, information is available on the levels of funding allocated to Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs), Drug Action Teams (DATs) and Basic Command Units (BCUs). The rounded figures are as follows:
	CDRPs—£1.45 million (out of £2.09 million Building Safer
	Communities Funding)
	DATs—£6.57 million
	BCD funding:
	£1.3 million to deliver the Criminal Justice Interventions Programme
	£1.7 million to support delivery of locally determined action to combat drug misuse

Emergency Services (Attacks)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many attacks on (a) police officers and (b) fire officers there were in (i) Greater London and (ii) each London borough in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many burglaries were committed in (a) the Metropolitan police area and (b) each London borough in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and in how many cases convictions were obtained for (i) custodial and (ii) non-custodial sentence, broken down by police force area;
	(3)  how many violent crimes against people were committed in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The offence of 'Assault on a constable' was added to the recorded crime series from April 1998. The available published figures at police force area level are given in the table. A greater breakdown of recorded crime figures for 2002–03 by local authority, police force and region is given on the Home Office website at www.crimestatistics.org.uk/output/Page1.asp.
	The numbers of assaults on fire officers are not collected by the Home Office.
	
		Number of assaults on a constable offences in Greater London (Metropolitan police and City of London)
		
			  Offences recorded 
		
		
			 1998–99 1,636 
			 1999–2000 1,438 
			 2000–01 1,397 
		
	
	Note:
	Footnotes are in violent crime table.
	The Metropolitan police recorded 72,237 offences of Burglary in a dwelling, and 41,190 offences of Burglary in a building other than a dwelling, in the period April 2002 to March 2003, amounting to a total recorded burglary offence figure of 113,427.
	A related collection, of numbers of recorded burglaries in dwellings, has been collected and published by Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) area for financial years since 1999–2000. In the Metropolitan police area, CDRP areas equate to boroughs. The requested figures are given in the table.
	
		Table 1: Numbers of burglary dwelling offences recorded by the Metropolitan police at CDRP level
		
			 Borough/CDRP Burglary dwelling, offences recorded 2002–03 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,262 
			 Barnet 2,607 
			 Bexley 1,241 
			 Brent 2,804 
			 Bromley 1,923 
			 Camden 3,348 
			 City of Westminster 2,110 
			 Croydon 2,769 
			 Baling 2,912 
			 Enfield 2,864 
			 Greenwich 1,875 
			 Hackney 3,646 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 2,186 
			 Haringey 3,403 
			 Harrow 1,952 
			 Havering 1,058 
			 Heathrow Airport 1 
			 Hillingdon 2,023 
			 Hounslow 1,968 
			 Islington 3,083 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1,652 
			 Kingston upon Thames 606 
			 Lambeth 4,410 
			 Lewisham 2,743 
			 Merton 1,048 
			 Newham 2,012 
			 Redbridge 1,757 
			 Richmond upon Thames 1,295 
			 Southwark 3,141 
			 Sutton 778 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,114 
			 Waltham Forest 2,559 
			 Wandsworth 3,087 
		
	
	The available convictions data is given in the table.
	
		Table 2: Number of offenders(24) found guilty, sentenced and sentenced to a non-custodial or custodial sentence for burglary at magistrates' courts in Greater London(25), including those found guilty and sentenced at the Crown court where these courts are the committing court, 2002 -- Sentence breakdown
		
			  Found guilty Sentenced Non-custodial Custodial 
		
		
			 Inner London magistrates courts(25) 
			 Bow Street 136 118 50 68 
			 Camberwell Green/ Tower Bridge 562 489 198 291 
			 Greenwich/Woolwich 212 173 50 123 
			 Guildhall Justice Rooms 45 49 24 25 
			 Highbury Corner 358 276 97 179 
			 Horseferry Road 217 192 61 131 
			 Marylebone 3 4 3 1 
			 South Western 333 310 149 161 
			 Thames 432 392 190 202 
			 West London 312 272 130 142 
			 Outer London boroughs 
			 Barking and Dagenham 95 89 48 41 
			 Barnet 90 72 42 30 
			 Barnet 43 47 19 28 
			 Bexley 71 62 34 28 
			 Brent 159 132 45 87 
			 Bromley 95 87 39 48 
			 Croydon 171 150 66 84 
			 Eating 178 155 67 88 
			 Enfield 164 144 81 63 
			 Haringey 154 139 64 75 
			 Harrow 82 68 39 29 
			 Havering 73 66 34 32 
			 Hillingdon 84 78 51 27 
			 Hounslow 127 109 54 55 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 69 64 33 31 
			 Merlon 95 87 37 50 
			 Newham 195 176 99 77 
			 Redbridge 124 118 44 74 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 91 76 42 34 
			 Sutton 77 73 43 30 
			 Waltham Forest 155 137 58 79 
			 Total 5,002 4,404 1,991 2,413 
		
	
	(24) These data are on the principal offence basis
	(25) Information held centrally does not allow a breakdown of cases by borough in the Inner London area
	The numbers of recorded violent crimes in the Greater London area in each year since 1997 are given in the table. Violent crime is composed of offences of violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery. It should be noted that both the change in counting rules for recorded on 1 April 1998, and the adoption of the National Crime Recording Standard on 1 April 2002, had the effect of inflating the number of crimes recorded, particularly for crimes of violence against the person.
	
		Number of violent offences in Greater London (including City of London)
		
			  Number of recordedviolent crimes 
		
		
			 1997 87,634 
			 1998–99(26) (26)166,551 
			 1999–2000 202,981 
			 2000–01 205,632 
			 2001–02 225,522 
			 2002–03(27) 232,732(27) 
		
	
	(26) There was a change of counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, which had the effect of increasing the number of crimes counted. Numbers of offences for years before and after this date are therefore not directly comparable.
	(27) The Metropolitan police and City of London forces introduced the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) in April 2002. Broadly, the NCRS had the effect of increasing the number of crimes recorded by the police. This has impacted particularly in violent crime. Therefore, following the introduction of the Standard, numbers of recorded crimes are directly comparable with previous years.
	Numbers of violent crimes are also collected at CDRP level. The available information is given in the table.
	
		Table 3: Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships from April 1999 to March 2003 London Region: Violent crime = Violence against the person, Sexual offences and Robbery
		
			 Total violent crime: Total offences recorded 
			 CDRP Family CDRP Force 1999–2000(28) 2000–01(29) 2001–02(29) 2002–03(29) , (30) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1 City of London London, City of 595 605 678 1,007 
			 6 Barking and Dagenham Metropolitan Police 3,910 4,545 5,013 5,329 
			 3 Bamet Metropolitan Police 5,364 5,835 6,422 6,597 
			 8 Bexley Metropolitan Police 3,595 3,815 4,062 4,098 
			 2 Brent Metropolitan Police 7,758 8,055 8,381 8,379 
			 8 Bromley Metropolitan Police 3,908 4,671 4,992 5,670 
			 1 Camden Metropolitan Police 7,282 7,551 8,328 7,935 
			 1 City of Westminster Metropolitan Police 12,200 11,397 12,269 12,352 
			 3 Croydon Metropolitan Police 7,276 8,287 8,685 9,957 
			 2 Ealing Metropolitan Police 8,715 8,284 9,448 9,325 
			 3 Enfield Metropolitan Police 5,274 6,217 6,665 6,964 
			 2 Greenwich Metropolitan Police 7,054 7,120 7,368 7,954 
			 2 Hackney Metropolitan Police 9,469 8,966 10,081 9,646 
			 3 Hammersmith and Fulham Metropolitan Police 5,780 5,498 5,845 5,856 
			 2 Haringey Metropolitan Police 7,313 7,973 8,206 8,123 
			 3 Harrow Metropolitan Police 3,102 3,147 3,668 3,573 
			 8 Havering Metropolitan Police 3,046 3,337 3,947 4,558 
			 3 Hillingdon Metropolitan Police 4,338 4,773 5,679 5,847 
			 3 Hounslow Metropolitan Police 6,060 6,398 7,119 8,372 
			 2 Islington Metropolitan Police 7,350 7,218 7,673 8,436 
			 3 Kensington and Chelsea Metropolitan Police 4,304 4,444 4,443 4,450 
			 3 Kingston upon Thames Metropolitan Police 2,713 2,860 3,138 3,312 
			 2 Lambeth Metropolitan Police 12,167 13,156 15,241 13,752 
			 2 Lewisham Metropolitan Police 6,722 7,250 7,856 7,795 
			 3 Merton Metropolitan Police 3,358 3,447 3,974 4,322 
			 2 Newham Metropolitan Police 9,344 9,784 10,383 10,679 
			 3 Redbridge Metropolitan Police 4,453 4,847 5,182 5,892 
			 3 Richmond upon Thames Metropolitan Police 2,375 2,321 2,580 2,942 
			 2 Southwark Metropolitan Police 9,943 10,048 11,284 10,898 
			 8 Sutton Metropolitan Police 2,469 2,393 2,905 3,476 
			 2 Tower Hamlets Metropolitan Police 7,292 8,105 8,854 9,777 
			 3 Waltham Forest Metropolitan Police 5,755 6,332 7,424 7,506 
			 3 Wandsworth Metropolitan Police 6,798 6,580 7,314 7,510 
			  Heathrow(31) Metropolitan Police n/a n/a 393 403 
		
	
	(28) CDRP total may differ from police force area total due to the boundary change on 1 April 2000, whereby the Metropolitan police ceded parts of it area to three surrounding forces (Hertfordshire, Essex and Surrey).
	(29) Total CDRP data may not tally exactly with published totals for police force areas. This is due to a variety of reasons, mainly related to the procedures used to calculate the CDRP figures.
	(30) The Metropolitan police and City of London forces introduced the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) in April 2002. Broadly the NCRS had the effect of increasing the number of crimes recorded by the police. This has impacted particularly in violent crime. Therefore, following the introduction of the standard, numbers of recorded crimes are not directly comparable with previous years.
	(31) Heathrow was added to the CDRP series from April 2001, and is currently un-assigned to a family.

Forensic Science Service

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department has had with Serco regarding the future of the Forensic Science Service.

Hazel Blears: None, but as part of the Outline Business Case Home Office advisers are conducting market soundings with a cross-section of commercial organisations and investors.

Greater London Crime Statistics

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) arrests were made, (b) people were charged, (c) cautions were issued and (d) convictions there were in Greater London, broken down by (i) police force, (ii) constituency and (iii) local authority area in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: It is not possible, from the statistics collected centrally on arrests, court proceedings and cautions, to identify constituencies in the Greater London Area, but the tables show the available information:
	Table A relates to persons arrested in the Greater London Area, by police force area and is limited to arrests for notifiable offences and covers the financial years, 1999–2000 to 2002–03. Arrest figures are not collected centrally below police force area.
	Table B relates to persons proceeded against for offences in the Greater London Area (statistics of people charged are not collected centrally) and those convicted in each borough in Outer London and each magistrates court in Inner London (it is not possible from the statistics collected centrally to identify boroughs in Inner London). The figures include persons convicted at the Crown court when committed for trial or sentence from the courts/boroughs shown.
	Table C shows persons cautioned for all offences (excluding summary motoring offences for which cautions are not issued) by police force area. Caution figures are not collected centrally below police force area.
	
		Table A: Persons arrested for notifiable offences recorded by the police, by police force area, Greater London, 1999–2000 to 2002–03
		
			 Police force area 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Metropolitan police 202,218 180,634 179,358 186,808  
			 City of London n/a 4,286 4,398 4,577 
			 Greater London (32)207,600 184,920 183,756 191,385 
		
	
	n/a = Not available.
	(32) Estimated.
	Note
	Information for earlier years is not available on a consistent basis.
	
		Table B: Number(33) of persons proceeded against and found guilty of all offences in Greater London(34) by police force area and magistrates' court/London Borough—1997 to 2002(33)
		
			  1997 1998 1999 
			  Persons proceeded against Persons found guilty Persons proceeded against Persons found guilty Persons proceeded against Persons found guilty 
		
		
			 Inner London magistrates' courts(34)   
			 City of London Police   
			 Guildhall Justice Rooms 8,462 6,315 9,282 6,416 9,109 6,523 
			
			 Metropolitan Police   
			 Bow Street(35) 12,671 10,122 9,514 7,665 7,345 5,796 
			 Camberwell Green/Tower Bridge 24,196 18,273 25,690 19,521 23,353 17,555 
			 Greenwich/Woolwich 12,903 10,352 15,289 12,519 14,264 11,481 
			 Highbury Corner(36) 22,061 16,070 19,732 14,937 16,079 12,287 
			 Horseferry Road 11,052 8,819 13,118 10,519 13,878 11,463 
			 Marylebone 12,615 9,346 15,208 11,898 13,563 10,015 
			 South Western 10,788 8,203 9,990 7,411 9,774 7,594 
			 Thames 9,777 6,995 4,506 3,505 14,658 10,347 
			 West London 11,009 7,960 12,735 9,320 10,940 7,736 
			 Inner London Youth Courts(37) 767 704 9 229 n/a 191 
			
			 Outer London Boroughs   
			 Metropolitan Police   
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,673 2,073 3,396 2,508 3,399 2,610 
			 Barnet 7,625 6,210 8,440 7,085 7,365 6,020 
			 Bexley 2,390 1,761 2,436 1,756 2,613 1,935 
			 Brent 10,943 7,912 10,264 7,910 9,607 7,525 
			 Bromley 5,890 4,497 6,145 4,868 5,189 4,171 
			 Croydon 10,341 7,467 11,545 9,474 8,570 6,793 
			 Ealing 7,313 5,217 6,176 4,502 5,626 4,137 
			 Enfield 4,071 2,777 5,028 3,796 6,543 5,106 
			 Haringey 6,768 5,000 7,462 5,575 8,141 5,898 
			 Harrow 4,143 2,822 4,505 3,440 4,463 3,185 
			 Havering 4,650 3,699 3,612 2,703 4,601 3,661 
			 Hillingdon 7,597 5,817 7,901 6,142 7,220 5,538 
			 Hounslow 8,327 6,013 9,129 6,815 8,570 6,138 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 4,171 3,109 4,189 3,103 3,692 2,789 
			 Merton 5,206 4,128 4,657 3,833 4,311 3,487 
			 Newham 7,901 5,892 9,200 7,144 8,873 6,837 
			 Redbridge 5,533 4,256 5,648 4,484 5,134 4,099 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 3,912 3,086 3,292 2,616 3,506 2,767 
			 Sutton 3,311 2,452 3,585 2,686 2,779 2,152 
			 Waltham Forest 6,572 4,755 6,987 5,373 6,074 4,532 
			 Total Metropolitan Police 247,176 185,787 249,388 193,337 240,130 183,845 
			 Total Greater London 255,638 192,102 258,670 199,753 249,239 190,368 
		
	
	
		
			  2000 2001 2002 
			  Persons proceeded against Persons found guilty Persons proceeded against Persons found guilty Persons proceeded against Persons found guilty 
		
		
			 Inner London magistrates' courts(34)   
			 City of London Police   
			 Guildhall Justice Rooms 10,815 8,719 11,262 9,552 10,338 8,078 
			
			 Metropolitan Police   
			 Bow Street(35) 6,908 5,512 6,152 4,550 7,757 5,874 
			 Camberwell Green/Tower Bridge 18,745 13,597 15,564 10,493 17,288 12,085 
			 Greenwich/Woolwich 11,834 8,780 11,788 8,627 13,595 10,481 
			 Highbury Corner(36) 13,696 10,141 10,857 7,287 12,174 8,761 
			 Horseferry Road 14,950 12,247 18,483 14,912 15,460 12,487 
			 Marylebone 14,728 11,782 14,405 11,835 21,268 18,038 
			 South Western 14,106 11,915 13,053 10,711 15,047 12,485 
			 Thames 11,510 7,641 10,554 6,968 11,638 7,657 
			 West London 11,117 7,348 11,086 6,941 11,937 7,914 
			 Inner London Youth Courts(37) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			
			 Outer London Boroughs   
			 Metropolitan Police   
			 Barking and Dagenham 3,800 3,100 3,652 2,905 4,207 3,240 
			 Barnet 8,535 6,988 6,903 5,383 7,400 5,681 
			 Bexley 2,685 1,891 2,676 1,862 2,955 2,159 
			 Brent 9,516 7,366 9,222 7,086 9,412 7,530 
			 Bromley 5,251 4,032 5,472 4,148 6,796 5,224 
			 Croydon 8,066 6,503 8,071 6,333 6,528 4,206 
			 Ealing 5,279 3,571 4,443 3,148 5,852 4,146 
			 Enfield 7,134 5,509 6,149 4,427 8,148 6,213 
			 Haringey 9,728 7,174 8,268 5,569 10,298 7,608 
			 Harrow 4,600 3,379 4,104 2,825 5,404 3,978 
			 Havering 4,542 3,685 4,114 3,086 6,205 4,927 
			 Hillingdon 6,947 5,182 7,246 5,363 8,508 6,681 
			 Hounslow 8,018 5,734 7,349 4,908 5,972 4,300 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 3,819 2,914 4,179 3,159 4,030 3,149 
			 Merton 4,654 3,850 4,441 3,594 5,032 4,149 
			 Newham 10,587 8,220 9,275 6,733 11,492 8,858 
			 Redbridge 5,470 4,291 4,317 3,278 5,575 4,423 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 3,199 2,423 3,242 2,381 3,629 2,759 
			 Sutton 2,878 2,251 2,915 2,200 3,233 2,506 
			 Waltham Forest 6,085 4,682 5,770 4,225 6,548 5,234 
			 Total Metropolitan Police 238,387 181,708 223,750 164,937 253,388 192,753 
			 Total Greater London 249,202 190,427 235,012 174,489 263,726 200,831 
		
	
	(33) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(34) Information held centrally does not allow a breakdown of cases by borough in the Inner London area.
	(35) Includes Marlborough Street, 1997–99.
	(36) Includes Clerkenwell and Hampstead, 1997–98.
	(37) Cases included with adults courts from 1998 (from 1999 for cases heard at the Crown court).
	
		Table C: By police force
		
			 Year/Police Cautioned(38) 
		
		
			 1997  
			 City of London 1,146 
			 Metropolitan 53,632 
			 Total 54,778 
			   
			 1998  
			 City of London 751 
			 Metropolitan 57,969 
			 Total 58,720 
			   
			 1999  
			 City of London 709 
			 Metropolitan 46,239 
			 Total 46,948 
			   
			 2000  
			 City of London 559 
			 Metropolitan 36,758 
			 Total 37,317 
			 2001  
			 City of London 902 
			 Metropolitan 31,337 
			 Total 32,239 
			   
			 2002  
			 City of London 1,083 
			 Metropolitan 32,088 
			 Total 33,171 
		
	
	(38) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	Statistics on court proceedings and cautions for 2003 will be published in the autumn.

Homicide Law

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the research conducted by the Law Commission into the deficiencies in the English law of homicide.

Paul Goggins: There are two recent pieces of work which the Law Commission have undertaken on the law of homicide. The first, published in September 2003, was entitled "Children: Their non-accidental death or serious injury (criminal trials)" (no 282). The research the Law Commission drew on in undertaking this work is set out in their report. We have built on the Law Commission's proposals in formulating the offence of causing or allowing the death of a child in the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victim's Bill currently before Parliament, and the accompanying procedural measures.
	The Commission have also begun work on the partial defences to murder, which reduce the charge of murder to that of manslaughter. They published a consultation document in October 2003 which sets out in more detail the research they have or will be undertaking on this. The consultation period closed at the end of January. We understand the Commission received a very large number of responses which they are considering and analysing. They are due to report in early summer and we await their conclusions with interest.

Huntingdon Life Sciences

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration was given, and by whom, to the ethical aspect of allowing dogs to be used for the testing of the effects of HCFCs at the Huntingdon Life Sciences Laboratory before a licence was granted for this procedure.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 8 March 2004
	Dogs are among the species specially protected by the Animals Scientific Procedures Act 1986, in that they can only be used in scientific studies when no other species are suitable or available. Their use in the study in question was to collect safety data about a chemical compound still in use.
	Initial consideration of the choice of species for the study, taking account of ethical and scientific considerations, was undertaken by those concerned at the establishment when preparing their application for the necessary project licence authorities under the 1986 Act. The special case for using dogs had to be made out at that stage.
	The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate provided a professional assessment of the application, and was satisfied that the use of dogs was justified and that there was no acceptable alternative. The Inspectorate was also satisfied that the other statutory criteria for granting the requested authorities had been met. In particular, the testing was for a permissible purpose, its likely benefit was deemed to outweigh the expected animal welfare costs, and the animal suffering was to be minimised consistent with achieving the scientific purpose.
	Home Office officials acting on behalf of the Secretary of State considered and accepted the Inspectorate's recommendation that the licence authorities should be granted.

Identity Cards

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) civil servants in his Department, (b) civil servants in other Departments and (c) external consultants are employed in taking forward his proposals for (i) identity cards, (ii) the National Identity Register and (iii) the draft identity cards legislation.

Beverley Hughes: The work on identity cards, the National Identity Register, and the draft identity cards legislation is carried out within the Identity Cards Programme. We currently have 23 civil servants and three full-time secondees, who are not established civil servants, working on the programme. Civil servants in other Departments contribute to the programme alongside their other duties but none are dedicated to this role.
	We also have six external part-time consultants currently contracted to provide specialised advice on particular parts of the programme.

Internet Child Pornography

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of individuals suspected of (a) making and (b) possessing internet child pornography due to investigations carried out under Operation Ore have been (i) cautioned, (ii) prosecuted and (iii) convicted.

Paul Goggins: I understand that of approximately 6,000 suspects being investigated under Operation Ore, to date there have been 1,202 individuals charged and 655 convicted. There are no centrally aggregated figures available for the number of cautions.

Internet Child Pornography

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department is taking to tackle the pornographic exploitation of children on the internet.

Paul Goggins: The Government is determined to reduce availability of child pornography on the internet and to deal with those people who use such images. Within the Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet we work with partners in industry, the law enforcement agencies and children's charities in order to improve technical and legal methods of addressing this problem as well as promote public awareness. We are also working with our international partners in the G8 and the ED to the same end. Achievements so far include increased police resources, higher criminal penalties for use of and trading in indecent photographs of children, and new offences in the Sexual Offences Act 2003 dealing with people who act so as to involve children in pornography. Additionally, the National Crime Squad of England and Wales have embarked on a global initiative with partner countries currently comprising Canada, USA and Australia, as well as Interpol, to establish new ways of combating and reducing child abuse on line.

Legislation

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by clause the provisions enacted in legislation sponsored by his Department since 1997 which have not been implemented.

David Blunkett: The table, which has been placed in the Library, lists the bills introduced by the Home Office in the sessions 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–2001 and 2001–2002. The table indicates the extent to which provisions are not in force or only partially in force. Last session's bills are not included as the session only ended in November 2003.
	We have now implemented over 94 per cent. of the legislation passed in these sessions.
	In some cases provisions have been repealed and replaced by later legislation and improved measures such as those now in the Anti-Social Behaviour Act. In some cases legislation has been updated following representations from Parliament for example from the Home Affairs Select Committee and others.

Misuse of Computers Act

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the financial cost to (a) the UK and (b) the regions of the misuse of information technology systems in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of misuse of information technology systems; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: There are no centrally aggregated figures of the financial cost to either the UK or the regions resulting from the misuse of information technology. There are a number of surveys and reports which seek to provide an estimate of the financial cost of such incidences, although these surveys are usually limited to a small sample of businesses and provide mainly subjective assumptions of financial loss. The government e-crime strategy will seek to bring together existing information in this area and consider the next steps to providing an accurate picture of the harm caused by computer related offences.
	There are a variety of measures which the government is taking to reduce the criminal misuse of computer systems.
	We have set up the National Hi Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU) as part of the National Crime Squad to combat national and transnational hi-tech crime within or which impacts upon the UK. The Unit, together with the specialist units within local forces which also deal with hi-tech crime investigations, have established good international links with overseas industry and law enforcement, necessary to follow the evidence trail to discover and prosecute the perpetrators of offences committed against computer systems or facilitated by the misuse of technology.
	We continue to keep all legislation which pertains to offences which can be committed by utilising information technology under review to ensure that developments in technology do not prevent law enforcement from being able to use legislative provisions to effectively investigate and prosecute computer related offences.
	The government e-crime strategy currently being developed will look to provide a framework for Government, law enforcement and industry action in response to all crimes which can be committed through the misuse of technology. It will outline current legislation, policy and practice, as well as advancing and informing the debate on longer-term issues.

National Offender Management Service

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the timescale is for the introduction of the new National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: An implementation team has been established and is currently preparing a detailed programme of work.
	The changes will take some time to work through. The National Offender Management Service will come into being from 1 June 2004 and it is anticipated that it will have become fully functional by 2008–09.

National Offender Management Service

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are for the management of the (a) juvenile and (b) high security prison estate under the new National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: As the Government report "Reducing Crime—Changing Lives" makes clear, the Youth Justice Board will remain as a Non-Departmental Public Body with responsibility to the Home Secretary.
	The management of the high security prison estate is being considered by the National Offender Management Service, implementation team as part of the wider implementation strategy.

National Offender Management Service

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation took place with relevent trade unions prior to the publication of the document Managing Offenders, Reducing Crime.

Paul Goggins: Patrick Carter's report Managing Offenders- Reducing Crime was an independent review of the Correctional Services. The Government's response 'Reducing Crime- Changing Lives' sought views from key stakeholders.

National Offender Management Service

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he will take in the light of the Bichard Inquiry to ensure that relevant information is (a) collected by the National Offender Management Service and (b) shared with appropriate agencies.

Paul Goggins: Arrangements for the collection of data within the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and the sharing of data with other appropriate agencies is being considered by the NOMS implementation team.

National Offender Management Service

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publicise the Business Case for the National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: The case for the establishment of a National Offender Management Service is outlined in Patrick Carter's independent report "Managing Offenders—Reducing Crime" published along with the Government response "Reducing Crime—Changing Lives" on 6 January 2004.

Neighbourhood Wardens

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of London's boroughs run neighbourhood warden schemes; how many wardens were employed in each of these boroughs at the latest date for which figures are available; how many boroughs directly (a) fund and (b) employ police community support officers (PCSOs); how many PCSOs each of these boroughs (i) funded and (ii) employed at the latest date for which figures are available; how many run a community safety accreditation scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The following table shows London boroughs which have warden schemes funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Neighbourhood Wardens Team and the number of wardens the council employs:
	
		
			 Borough No. of Wardens 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 4 
			 Barnet 12 
			 Brent 9 
			 Camden 15 
			 City of Westminster 18 
			 Croydon 12 
			 Ealing 8 
			 Greenwich 10 
			 Hackney 25 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 6 
			 Haringey 14 
			 Harrow 6 
			 Havering 8 
			 Hounslow 7 
			 Islington 28 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3 
			 Lambeth 12 
			 Lewisham 27 
			 Merton 8 
			 Newham 12 
			 Redbridge 5 
			 Southwark 27 
			 Sutton 4 
			 Tower Hamlets 29 
			 Waltham Forest 10 
			 Wandsworth 23 
		
	
	We are unable to supply figures for other types of warden schemes or warden numbers in London as this data is not collected.
	Community Support Officers (CSOs), as defined by the Police Reform Act 2002, are all employees of the local Police Authority. In London and elsewhere local authorities have contributed to the funding of CSOs but they cannot employ them.
	The Commissioner for the Metropolis informs me that the following Boroughs operate additional CSOs funded through Special Services Agreements under section 25 of the Police Act 1996.
	
		
			 Borough No of CSOs 
		
		
			 Camden 2 
			 Greenwich 5 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 2 
			 Hillingdon 7 
			 Islington 4 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 12 
			 Tower Hamlets 8 
		
	
	At present the Metropolitan Police Service has no agreement with any of the London boroughs to accredit their staff under a community safety accreditation scheme.

Parole

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what methods are used by the Parole Board to assess whether an offender held in custody presents a risk which is manageable in the community, as defined under the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

Paul Goggins: The Parole Board considers the early release of prisoners either by means of a paper review, or by convening an oral hearing. In every case, the Parole Board is provided with a dossier of papers on behalf of the Secretary of State, which may include information about the index offence, previous offending, behaviour whilst in custody and progress on offending behaviour programmes, as well as reports prepared by probation officers, prison service staff and, where appropriate, psychiatrists or psychologists. The prisoner also has an opportunity to submit representations and, at oral hearings, give oral evidence and call witnesses.
	In all cases, the Board's primary consideration is public protection. The Parole Board therefore uses all the available information to form an assessment of risk. In forming that assessment, the Board is required to take into account factors set out in the Secretary of State's Directions on the release or recall of prisoners. Copies of these Directions are to be found in the House Library, in Prison Service Order 6000 and Prison Service Order 4700.
	The provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 in respect of the release of determinate sentence prisoners and dangerous prisoners have not yet been implemented. The new release arrangements for mandatory life sentence prisoners, pursuant to section 275 of the 2003 Act were introduced on 18 December 2003. In light of these changes, we are currently reviewing the Secretary of State's Directions for the release of all life sentence prisoners and a statement will be made in due course.

Police

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department has taken to improve the efficiency of the police since 1997, with particular reference to information and communication technology; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Government wants to ensure that police resources are used efficiently as well as effectively. A target for annual efficiency gains by the police service of 2 per cent.has been in place since 1999–2000 and has been achieved in each year up to 2002–03, the last year for which figures are available. The efficiency target will be examined during the Spending Review 2004.
	Since 1999–2000 police authorities have been required to include efficiency plans in their annual policing plans. Her Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary assesses performance in relation to the efficiency plans.
	Help to improve efficiency has been provided through:
	the work of Her Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Police Standards Unit;
	the introduction of Community Support Officers and empowered police staff, to help police officers concentrate on the tasks they are best suited and trained to undertake;
	measures to reduce bureaucracy identified by the taskforce led by Sir David O'Dowd;
	and by the introduction of the Policing Performance Assessment Framework.
	Technology can play a significant role in reducing the burden of bureaucracy and in increasing efficiency.
	The Home Office Science and Technology Strategy links together all of the individual strategies underway or planned in the Home Office and which contain Science and Technology strands.
	This includes the Criminal Justice System (CJS) Strategic Plan for joint planning across the whole of the CJS by the Home Office, the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Attorney General's Office. The Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) was established from 1 April 1998 as a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) to provide a national capability for information technology and communications solutions to the police service.
	There has been central investment through PITO in key national projects over the last six years including Airwave the new digital police radio system, the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS), applications Supporting the National Strategy for Police Information Systems (NSPIS) and the development of the police-public interface.
	Forces are also able to use central funding provided through police and other grants to make local investments in IT and have direct access to funding streams such as the Invest to Save Budget.

Police

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on (a) the recruitment of police officers, (b) the recruitment of graduates to work as police officers and (c) the Accelerated Promotion scheme for graduate police officers in Greater London.

Hazel Blears: Recruitment in England and Wales from 1 April 1997 to 31 March 2003 was as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997–98 6,543 
			 1998–99 5,391 
			 1999–2000 4,535 
			 2000–01 7,415 
			 2001–02 10,215 
			 2002–03 13,126 
		
	
	We now have record police numbers of 138,155 as at 31 December 2003.
	Over the same period the Metropolitan Police Service recruited:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,199 
			 1998–99 1,633 
			 1999–2000 994 
			 2000–01 1,350 
			 2001–02 2,748 
			 2002–03 3,489 
		
	
	We do not collate the number of graduates recruited into the police service centrally and cannot say how many graduates have been recruited. We believe that the Police Service remains an attractive career for graduates. Of the 4,947 candidates that have gone through the national assessment centre procedure since April 2003, 25 per cent. have been graduates.
	The Accelerated Promotion Scheme for Graduates was replaced in April 2002 by the High Potential Development (HPD) scheme which recruits both graduates and non graduates, externally and from within forces, with the potential to reach at least superintendent rank. It ensures that they are equipped with the necessary skills to become highly effective in middle management, command and leadership roles. The scheme is actively marketed to graduates.
	Three intakes are run each year. Five intakes have been completed. 96 candidates have been selected from these five intakes. Statistics for intakes 1–4 show that 67 per cent. of those recruited onto the scheme were graduates on application. We do not have data for the Greater London area.

Police

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of police officers in Greater London, broken down by rank, are (a) female and (b) from an ethnic minority.

Hazel Blears: The information is provided in the table and is the position as at 31 March 2003.
	
		(full-time equivalents)
		
			  MPS City of London 
			  Number Percentage of total Number Percentage of total 
		
		
			 Women Officers 
			 ACPO Rank 5 13.9 0 0 
			 Chief Superintendent 4 4.3 0 0 
			 Superintendent 9 6.8 0 0 
			 Chief Inspector 29 6.6 2 12.5 
			 Inspector 97 7.1 3 5.9 
			 Sergeant 468 11.1 9 8.3 
			 Constable 4210 19.2 121 19.5 
			 Total female officers 4822 17.1 135 16.6 
			 Total number of officers 28231  811  
			 Minority Ethnic Officers 
			 ACPO Rank 3 8.3 0 0 
			 Chief Superintendent 2 2.2 0 0 
			 Superintendent 4 3 0 0 
			 Chief Inspector 8 1.8 1 6.3 
			 Inspector 40 2.9 1 2 
			 Sergeant 132 3.1 2 1.9 
			 Constable 1385 6.3 24 3.9 
			 Total minority ethnic officers 1574 5.6 28 3.5 
			 Total number of officers 28231  811

Prison Governors

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) governing governors and (b) governor grades of prison establishments in England and Wales are from a minority ethnic group.

Paul Goggins: There are currently 40 Senior Operational Managers (formerly Governor grades) working in public sector prisons who are recorded as coming from a minority ethnic group (based on voluntary declarations). There are currently no Senior Operational Managers in charge of establishments (Governing Governor) recorded as from a minority ethnic group.

Prison Officers

Ann Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officer entry level training courses have been run over the past 12 months; what the start date of each course was; where each course was held; what the capacity of each course was; how many new recruits or converting staff started each course; how many completed each course; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: Between 1 March 2003 and 29 February 2004, 89 Prison Officer Entry Level Training courses started.
	Details of those courses are set out in the tables.
	
		(i) 1March 2003—30September 2003
		
			 Date Venue Normal capacity Number of completions 
		
		
			 3 March 2003 Local—HMP Kingston 12 12 
			 10 March 2003 Local—HMP Whitemoor 20 18 
			 17 March 2003 Local—HMP Albany 16 16 
			 24 March 2003 Local—HMP Belmarsh 18 18 
			 7 April 2003 Central—Prison Service College Aberford Road, Wakefield 100 104 
			 7 April 2004 Local—HMP Standford Hill 14 14 
			 14 April 2003 HMP Deerbolt 12 12 
			 21 April 2003 Central—PSC Aberford Road 40 42 
			 28 April 2003 Central—PSC Aberford Road 40 39 
			 28 April 2003 Local—HMP Deerbolt 20 20 
			 5 May 2003 Central—Prison Service College Newbold Revel, Rugby, Warwickshire 40 39 
			 5 May 2003 Central—PSC Aberford Road 20 19 
			 5 May 2003 Local—HMP Whitemoor 19 19 
			 5 May 2003 Local—HMP Feltham 37 37 
			 12 May 2003 Central—PSC Aberford Road 20 19 
			 19 May 2003 Central—PSC Aberford Road 40 40 
			 19 May 2003 Local—HMP Albany 22 22 
			 19 May 2003 Local—HMP Nottingham 20 20 
			 26 May 2003 Local—HMP Highpoint 19 19 
			 2 June 2003 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 20 23 
			 2 June 2003 Local—HMP Kingston 16 16 
			 2 June 2003 Local—HMP Nottingham 20 20 
			 9 June 2003 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 20 19 
			 9 June 2003 Local—HMP Belmarsh 15 15 
			 9 June 2003 Local—HMP Full Sutton 15 15 
			 16 June 2003 Local—HMP Bullingdon 11 11 
			 23 June 2003 Central—PSC Aberford Road 40 39 
			 23 June 2003 Local—HMP Standford Hill 12 12 
			 30 June 2003 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 40 34 
			 7 July 2003 Central—PSC Aberford Road 20 17 
			 7 July 2003 Local—Bullingdon 14 14 
			 14 July 2003 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 20 18 
			 14 July 2003 Local—HMP Whitemoor 12 12 
			 21 July 2003 Local—HMP Highpoint 20 20 
			 28 July 2003 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 40 36 
			 28 July 2003 Local—HMP Whitemoor 16 16 
			 4 August 2003 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 20 13 
			 4 August 2003 Local—HMP Feltham 42 42 
			 4 August 2003 Local—HMP Highpoint 20 20 
			 11 August 2003 Central—PSC Aberford Road 40 38 
			 11 August 2003 Central—PSC Aberford Road 20 20 
			 18 August 2003 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 40 30 
			 18 August 2003 Central—PSC Aberford Road 20 22 
			 25 August 2003 Central—PSC Aberford Road 40 39 
			 1 September 2003 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 20 14 
			 8 September 2003 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 20 14 
			 8 September 2003 Local—HMP Full Sutton 13 13 
			 8 September 2003 Local—HMP Belmarsh 15 15 
			 15 September 2003 Local—HMP Bullingdon 13 13 
			 15 September 2003 Local—HMP Frankland 20 20 
			 15 September 2003 Local—HMP Nottingham 19 19 
			 22 September 2003 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 40 38 
			 22 September 2003 Local—HMP Highpoint 20 20 
			 29 September 2003 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 40 37 
			 29 September 2003 Local—HMP Stoke Heath 18 18 
			 29 September 2003 Local—HMP Nottingham 19 19 
			 Total  1,379 1,330 
		
	
	
		(ii) 1October 2003–29February 2004
		
			 Date Venue Normal capacity Number of delegates Number of completions 
		
		
			 6 October 2003 Local—HMP Belmarsh 14 14 14 
			 13 October 2003 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 40 39 39 
			 13 October 2003 Local—HMP Woodhill 17 17 17 
			 20 October 2003 Local—HMP Wymott 14 14 14 
			 27 October 2003 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 40 35 35 
			 27 October 2003 Local—HMP Feltham 33 33 33 
			 3 November 2003 Local—HMP Wymott 18 18 18 
			 3 November 2003 Local—HMP Highpoint 18 16 16 
			 3 November 2003 Local—HMP Full Sutton 14 14 14 
			 10 November 2003 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 40 42 42 
			 17 November 2003 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 40 41 41 
			 17 November 2003 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 40 38 38 
			 17 November 2003 Local—HMP Manchester 17 12 12 
			 1 December 2003 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 40 44 44 
			 1 December 2003 Local—HMP Whitemoor 20 20 20 
			 8 December 2003 J.ocal—HMP Bullingdon 16 16 16 
			 8 December 2003 Local—HMP Belmarsh 15 13 13 
			 15 December 2003 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 40 39 39 
			 12 January 2004 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 40 38 38 
			 12 January 2004 Local—HMP Wymott 13 13 13 
			 12 January 2004 Local—HMP Bullingdon 16 16 16 
			 12 January 2004 Local HMP Woodhill 15 14 14 
			 12 January 2004 Local—HMP Highpoint 20 20 19 
			 12 January 2004 Local—HMP Full Sutton 18 18 18 
			 19 January 2004 Local—HMP Highdown 19 19 19 
			 19 January 2004 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 40 38 38 
			 19 January 2004 Local—HMP Feltham 37 37 37 
			 26 January 2004 Local—HMP Stoke Heath 10 10 10 
			 2 February 2004 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 40 32 32 
			 2 February 2004 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 20 17 17 
			 9 February 2004 Local—HMP Frankland 15 15 15 
			 16 February 2004 Central—PSC Newbold Revel 40 33 33 
			 23 February 2004 Local—HMP Belmarsh 15 15 15 
			 Total  834 800 799 
			 Grand total  2,213 (800) 2,129 
		
	
	Records of number of delegates starting the course are available only for courses beginning from 1 October 2003.
	It is not possible to provide information on the number of new recruits and the number of converting staff on each course. All existing staff apply to officer positions as external recruits, and not as transfers or promotions. As no distinction is made at the point of recruitment, no distinction is made in the data recorded.
	Some central courses have operated at slightly above their normal capacity, to accommodate particular recruitment pressures at the time. Hence, in some cases, the numbers of completions exceeds the normal capacity.
	Locally delivered courses generally do not have a pre-determined maximum capacity, but are planned to accommodate the number of officers who have been recruited. Hence, the capacity of locally delivered courses varies over time.

Prison Officers

Ann Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate the Prison Service has made of the number of new prison officers it will need to recruit to provide a full staff complement by April 2005.

Paul Goggins: On 29 February 2004 23,772 prison officer grades (Prison Officers, Senior Officers and Principal Officers) were employed by the Prison Service. In addition, prison officers contracted to work additional hours equivalent to in excess of 400 full-time officers through the contract supplementary hours scheme, giving a total staffing availability equivalent to 24,172 prison officer grades. This compared to an operational staffing requirement for prison officer grades of 24,627. These figures do not take account of new staff still in the recruitment process on 29 February 2004.
	The Prison Service operational staffing requirement will change as new accommodation is brought into operation and as accommodation is temporarily taken out of operational use for refurbishment. However, the current shortfall in overall staffing availability for prison officer grades against the current operational staffing requirement is equivalent to just 448 officers, or 1.82 per cent., which is an acceptable operating margin.
	The Prison Service estimates that it will need to recruit 2,600 new prison officers between 1 February 2004 and 1 April 2005 to meet planned increased capacity and replace officers forecast to leave the service through retirement and for other reasons. This is in line with current levels of recruitment activity. However, actual recruitment over this period will depend on a variety of factors including the overall availability and use of resources.

Prison Officers

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers in England and Wales are from a minority ethnic group.

Paul Goggins: 978 prison officer grade staff (prison officers, senior officers and principal officers) in public sector prisons are currently recorded as from a minority ethnic group, based on voluntary declarations. This represents 4.1 per cent. of staff currently employed in prison officer grades.

Prison Officers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average leave entitlement is for staff at (a) state and (b) private jails in England and Wales.

Paul Goggins: A report commissioned in 2003 by the Prison Service Pay Review Body contained a comparison of annual holiday entitlements between private sector and state run prisons. An extract of the relevant table in this report follows.
	
		Senior officer, prison officer and OSG and equivalent
		
			  Days per year 
		
		
			 Initial  
			 Prison service 25 
			 Private sector 20 
			 Maximum  
			 Prison service 33 
			 Private sector 23 
		
	
	Note
	Prison service figures include three days privilege holiday taken on defined days during the year.

Prison Officers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the differences are between pension levels at private and state run jails in England and Wales.

Paul Goggins: A report commissioned in 2003 by the Prison Service Pay Review Body contained a comparison of pension provision between private sector and state run prisons. Using a method of comparison to employer contribution rates, the difference between pension levels for prison officers at private and state run prisons in England and Wales has been calculated at an average salary benefit value of +9.5 per cent. to staff in state-run prisons. This figure reduces to +2 per cent. at the in-charge governor level.

Prison Officers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average annual salary for prison officers is at (a) privately-run and (b) state-run prisons in England and Wales.

Paul Goggins: A report commissioned in 2003 by the Prison Service Pay Review Body contained an average salary comparison between private sector and state-run prisons. The study found the average basic salary for prison officers in state-run prisons in England and Wales to be £23,017 (at 1 April 2003 rates). The corresponding figure for private sector prisons was £16,077.

Prison Officers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average salary is for prison officers at state-run prisons in England and Wales.

Paul Goggins: A report commissioned in 2003 by the Prison Service Pay Review Body contained average salary figures for state run prisons in England and Wales. This showed the average basic salary for prison officers in state-run prisons to be £23,017 (at 1 April 2003 rates).

Prison Staff

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of staff in each prison in England and Wales are from a minority ethnic group.

Paul Goggins: The information is contained in the table. The data reflects the proportion of all staff working at each public sector prison who have voluntarily declared themselves to be from a minority ethnic group, compared to the total staff in post.
	
		
			 Establishment Proportion of minority ethnic staff (based on voluntary declarations) 
		
		
			 Acklington 2.1 
			 Albany 1.5 
			 Ashwell 0.7 
			 Askham Grange 4.8 
			 Aylesbury 8.3 
			 Bedford 5.9 
			 Belmarsh 7.9 
			 Birmingham 11.9 
			 Blakenhurst 4.7 
			 Blantyre House 2.6 
			 Blundeston 2.0 
			 Brinsford 8.8 
			 Bristol 4.7 
			 Brixton 24.6 
			 Brockhill 7.4 
			 Buckley Hall 3.3 
			 Bullingdon 4.4 
			 Bullwood Hall 6.1 
			 Camp Hill 1.1 
			 Canterbury 1.0 
			 Cardiff 2.0 
			 Castington 0.8 
			 Channings Wood 1.1 
			 Chelmsford 4.2 
			 Coldingley 3.3 
			 Cookham Wood 2.6 
			 Dartmoor 3.1 
			 Deerbolt 0.9 
			 Dorchester 1.1 
			 Dover 4.5 
			 Downview 8.0 
			 Drake Hall 2.0 
			 Durham 0.9 
			 East Sutton Park 1.4 
			 Eastwood Park 3.3 
			 Edmunds Hill 3.9 
			 Elmley 3.8 
			 Erlestoke 1.7 
			 Everthorpe 0.8 
			 Exeter 0.6 
			 Featherstone 2.7 
			 Feltham 16.9 
			 Ford 1.1 
			 Foston Hall 3.2 
			 Frankland 1.6 
			 Full Sutton 0.6 
			 Garth 1.9 
			 Gartree 4.2 
			 Glen Parva 5.1 
			 Gloucester 1.7 
			 Grendon 4.6 
			 Guys Marsh 2.4 
			 Haslar 2.7 
			 Haverigg 1.3 
			 Hewell Grange 2.0 
			 High Down 10.2 
			 Highpoint 2.1 
			 Hindley 1.5 
			 Hollesley Bay 2.0 
			 Holloway 34.9 
			 Holme House 0.6 
			 HQ 12.4 
			 Hull 2.9 
			 Huntercombe 7.0 
			 Kingston 2.7 
			 Kirkham 0.7 
			 Kirklevington Grange 0.9 
			 Lancaster 1.6 
			 Lancaster Farms 0.9 
			 Latchmere House 14.1 
			 Leeds 4.4 
			 Leicester 6.8 
			 Lewes 4.4 
			 Leyhill 1.8 
			 Lincoln 1.0 
			 Lindholme 0.7 
			 Littlehey 4.1 
			 Liverpool 0.6 
			 Long Lartin 2.6 
			 Low Newton 0.7 
			 Maidstone 3.2 
			 Manchester 2.9 
			 Moorland 3.0 
			 Morton Hall 3.5 
			 New Hall 1 .4 
			 North Sea Camp 0.7 
			 Northallerton 0.0 
			 Norwich 2.7 
			 Nottingham 4.1 
			 Onley 4.2 
			 Parkhurst 1.4 
			 Pentonville 29.6 
			 Portland 2.0 
			 Preston 1.9 
			 Ranby 2.0 
			 Reading 5.4 
			 Risley 1.3 
			 Rochester 4.4 
			 Send 2.9 
			 Shepton Mallet 1.4 
			 Shrewsbury 1.4 
			 Stafford 4.0 
			 Standford Hill 2.0 
			 Stocken 2.6 
			 Stoke Heath 2.7 
			 Styal 6.1 
			 Sudbury 3.4 
			 Swaleside 5.9 
			 Swansea 1.6 
			 Swinfen Hall 3.0 
			 The Mount 7.7 
			 The Verne 1.4 
			 Thorn Cross 0.5 
			 Usk/Prescoed 3.2 
			 Wakefield 3.1 
			 Wandsworth 23.8 
			 Warren Hill 2.9 
			 Wayland 1.3 
			 Wealstun 2.5 
			 Weare 1.8 
			 Wellingborough 5.4 
			 Werrington 1.1 
			 Wetherby 3.0 
			 Whatton 2.1 
			 Whitemoor 2.6 
			 Winchester 1.3 
			 Woodhill 4.2 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 28.3 
			 Wymott 2.5 
			 Prison Service Total 5.4

Prison/Probation Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the Director General of the National Offender Management Service will ensure that the (a) Prison and (b) Probation Services are adequately funded to ensure that all their statutory duties are complied with.

Paul Goggins: The overall funding settlement for the National Offender Management Service will be secured as part of the usual Spending Review process. Funding for individual elements of the National Offender Management Service, including prison and probation services, will be determined by the Chief Executive who will take account of funding requirements necessary to discharge statutory duties.

Prisoner Categories

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are held in Category C prisons who have been designated as Category B prisoners.

Paul Goggins: I will write to the hon. Member.

Prisoner Statistics

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are being held in prisons in England and Wales, broken down by (a) ethnic and (b) religious group; and if he will provide the equivalent figures for each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: A breakdown of the prison population in England and Wales by ethnic group on 28 February 2003 and by religion on 30 November 2003 is given in the tables. Equivalent figures for each of the last five years can be found in the publication "Prison Statistics England and Wales 2002", a copy of which is available in the Library.
	
		
			  
		
		
			  
			 Prison population by religion 30 November 2003 
			 All Christian 42,087 
			 Anglican 25,608 
			 Free Church 1,389 
			 Roman Catholic 12,858 
			 Other Christian 2,232 
			 Buddhist 1,062 
			 Hindu 338 
			 Jewish 178 
			 Muslim 6,277 
			 Sikh 522 
			 Other non-Christian 243 
			 Non-recognised 291 
			 No religion 23,005 
			 Not recorded 52 
			 Total 74,055 
			   
			  Prison population by ethnic group 28 February 2003 
			 White 54,445 
			 Black 11,942 
			 South Asian 2,352 
			 Chinese and other 3,468 
			 Unrecorded 79 
			 Total 72,286

Prisoner Statistics

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will break down by ethnic origin (a) prisoners in each prison in England and Wales and (b) the proportion of prisoners in each prison in England and Wales on the latest date for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: A table showing the breakdown by ethnic origin of (a) prisoners in each prison in England and Wales and (b) the proportion of prisoners in each prison in England and Wales on 28 February 2003 has been placed in the Library.

Prisoner Statistics

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) women and (b) men were being held in prison on 10 March 2004.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 15 March 2004
	On 10 March 2004 there were 4,554 females and 70,409 males held in prison service establishments in England and Wales.

Prisoner Statistics

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were released on early release on 10 March.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 15 March 2004
	Information on the number of prisoners who were released on early release on 10 March 2004 is not yet available.

Prisoner Statistics

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were eligible for early release on 10th March.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 15 March 2004
	Information on the number of prisoners who were eligible for early release on 10 March 2004 is not yet available.

Prisons

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of whether the intended expansion in the use of contestability will require future private operators to run prisons at a lower cost, with the same targets for service delivery.

Paul Goggins: When evaluating bids following any competition, the Home Office uses best procurement practice in awarding the contract to the provider who offers best value for money, which may or may not be the lowest cost.
	The introduction of greater contestability for offender services, including running prisons, will not lead to a change in this policy.

Prisons

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions have taken place with trade unions regarding future privately built but publicly run prisons.

Paul Goggins: Although future privately built but publicly run prisons are one of the options currently under consideration for the provision of additional offender accommodation, no decision has yet been taken on what form of procurement would be used. The trade unions will be consulted on the issue once firm proposals have been developed.

Prisons

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will be responsible for the monitoring of the performance of privately run prisons under the National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: The Chief Executive of the National Offender Management Service will be responsible for monitoring the performance of privately run prisons.

Prisons

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there will be a requirement under the National Offender Management Service to renegotiate existing contracts for privately run prisons.

Paul Goggins: The existing contracts for privately run prisons are with the Secretary of State and will not change under the National Offender Management Service reforms.

Prisons

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) new prisons and (b) extensions are planned to be built; how many will be (i) publicly and (ii) privately run; how many new prison officers will be needed; and what category each new prison will be.

Paul Goggins: The information is as follows:
	(a) 1,290 places will be provided at two new private sector prisons. Bronzefield, in Middlesex, will provide closed conditions for women and is due to open in June 2004. Peterborough will be a local prison and will hold both male and female prisoners. All new prisons are built to Category B standards but are categorised to reflect the need of the prevailing population profile.
	The contracts for these new prisons contain the minimum staffing cover for different times of day and different areas of the prison. It will be for the contractor to decide how many prison custody officers will be needed to sustain the required staffing cover.
	(b) Funding has been provided for additional places to be built at existing prisons by 2006. 1,400 places will be built in 2004 and 1,300 places will be built in 2005 in new houseblocks and ready-to-use units. The places will take the security category of the establishment in which they are built. A breakdown of accommodation for which the security categorisation has already been determined as follows:
	
		
			 Expected Establishment Category Places 
		
		
			 2004 Winchester-West Hill Local 40 
			 2004 Wymott C 180 
			 2004 Wealstun C 180 
			 2004 Swinfen Hall(39) C 120 
			 2004 Foston Hall Female closed 40 
			 2004 Ranby C 180 
			 2004 Blakenhurst Local 180 
			 2004 Wellingborough C 120 
			 2004 Swinfen Hall(39) C 180 
			 2005 Gartree B 240 
			 2005 Whatton C 400 
		
	
	(39) HMP Swinfen Hall has two new houseblocks due in 2004.
	It will be for local managers to decide the appropriate levels of staffing to deliver the appropriate regime and security cover.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons with foreign nationals have specific work (a) led by a foreign nationals co-ordinator and (b) guided by relevant policies.

Paul Goggins: Some prisons with large numbers of foreign national prisoners have appointed a member of staff to act as a foreign nationals coordinator to work specifically to address their needs. Information on such prisons is not kept centrally but it tends to be in those prisons which have had a high number of foreign national prisoners for some time.
	All prisons have a race relations liaison officer and a race relations management team that are responsible for the promotion of good race relations and the fair treatment of ethnic minority prisoners, who may include many foreign nationals.
	Prison service policies aim to ensure that all prisoners, including foreign nationals, are treated fairly and that their needs are met. This includes maintenance of their ties with family members and their own community, diet, religion, and access to welfare, legal and interpreting services. Some prisons have produced a local policy document with specific guidance on how foreign national prisoners' needs should be met. However, detailed information about these policies is not monitored centrally and can be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Prisons

Ann Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost has been of the maintenance and refurbishment of each prison for each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The information is set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Establishments 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 Total (£000) 
		
		
			 Acklington 227  642 3,653 715 5,237 
			 Albany 271 130 12 418 2,014 2,845 
			 Ashwell 1,277 2,991 2,269 1,176 2,559 10,272 
			 Askham Grange893 1,793 2,686 
			 Aylesbury 418 876 1,688 2,975  5,957 
			 Bedford 12  704 1,727 679 3,122 
			 Belmarsh 90  495 990 808 2,383 
			 Birmingham 259 1,025 1,855 7,422 7,017 17,578 
			 Blakenhurst 88 88 
			 Blantyre House 372 67  252 488 1,179 
			 Blundeston   284   284 
			 Brinsford 668 32 846 583 1,170 3,299 
			 Bristol 1,626 4,705 3,148 339 1,737 11,555 
			 Brixton 560 494 1,404 2,068 1,234 5,760 
			 Brockhill 51 57  222 3,946 4,276 
			 Buckley Hall 2,399 2,399 
			 Bullingdon 101 37  213 107 458 
			 Bullwood Hall   50 30 275 355 
			 Camp Hill 2,135 92 3,173 2,934 3,700 12,034 
			 Canterbury 986 1,166 301 512 636 3,601 
			 Cardiff 299 1,097 1,929 2,584 4,274 10,183 
			 Castington 3,920 4,838 4,620 1,164 1,699 16,241 
			 Channings Wood 1,782 362 47 411 1,727 4,329 
			 Chelmsford  151 897 1,889 4,531 7,468 
			 Coldingley 1,352 102 198 383 598 2,633 
			 Cookham Wood 22   217 590 829 
			 Dartmoor 15 341 30  173 559 
			 Deerbolt 2,539 882 90 2,424 1,529 7,464 
			 Doncaster 311 311 
			 Dorchester 106  734 2,232 842 3,914 
			 Dover 821 35 1,262 1,689 585 4,392 
			 Downview  512 289 303 708 1,812 
			 Drake Hall 729 84 3,471 2,497 4,194 10,975 
			 Durham 1,464 474 3,297 4,532 4,937 14,704 
			 East Sutton Park 200 28   607 835 
			 Eastwood Park 141  55 2,728 2,024 4,948 
			 Edmunds Hill11 1,323 1,334 
			 Elmley 328 328 
			 Erlestoke476 3,492 3,968 
			 Everthorpe   116 1,741 1,365 3,222 
			 Exeter 156 229 794 13 441 1,633 
			 Featherstone 104 82 84 1,186 259 1,715 
			 Feltham 3,911 4,961 1,949 4,082 790 15,693 
			 Ford 24  301   325 
			 Foston Hall 50  701 43 82 876 
			 Frankland 2,329 590 2,215 232 153 5,519 
			 Full Sutton 132 1,358 112 812 539 2,953 
			 Garth  453 1,003 506 217 2,179 
			 Gartree  79 2,816 2,192 5,345 10,432 
			 Glen Parva 363 47 746 338 987 2,481 
			 Gloucester 139 468 2,980 1,015 184 4,786 
			 Grendon 233 2,353 734 188  3,508 
			 Guys Marsh853 847 1,700 
			 Haslar 18658 676 
			 Haverigg 3,589 3,692 332 212 1,724 9,549 
			 Hewell Grange 1,387 207 455 121  2,170 
			 Highdown 283 232 449 277 344 1,585 
			 Highpoint 622 1,588 1,861 973 356 5,400 
			 Hindley 535 21 190 2,282 689 3,717 
			 Hollesley Bay 2,143 673 275 654 1,073 4,818 
			 Holloway 289 1,305 666 1,096 1,746 5,102 
			 Huntercombe   98 1,163 28 1,289 
			 Holme House   199 865 1,897 2,961 
			 Hull 474 58 412   944 
			 Kingston 35 68 972 185 408 1,668 
			 Kirkham 1,231 133 200 5,591 976 8,131 
			 Kirklevington213 3,026 3,239 
			 Lancaster Castle  2,007 99 17 896 3,019 
			 Lancaster Farms 855 422 71 1,336 1,531 4,215 
			 Latchmere House 762 128   133 1,023 
			 Leeds 424 263 3,094 2,306 1,782 7,869 
			 Leicester 134  99  462 695 
			 Lewes 152 42 61 937 1,928 3,120 
			 Leyhill 74 148  99  321 
			 Lincoln 2,219 2,484 2,800 4,403 931 12,837 
			 Lindholme 924 5,611 1,311 789 2,769 11,404 
			 Littlehey 562 12 448   1,022 
			 Liverpool 1,136 3,296 2,519 834 95 7,880 
			 Long Lartin 520 555 1,514 3,568 2,719 8,876 
			 Low Newton 1,345 272 49 358  2,024 
			 Maidstone 1,563 1,396 2,896 1,690 2,516 10,061 
			 Manchester 56256 312 
			 Moorland 363 363 
			 Moorland (Open)  0 
			 Morton Hall   2,538 824 248 3,610 
			 Mount 302 202 120 209 641 1,474 
			 New Hall 431 96 1,128 234 239 2,128 
			 North Sea Camp 33  80 191 27 331 
			 Northallerton  1,741 627  925 3,293 
			 Norwich  138 159 856 636 1,789 
			 Nottingham  136  893 584 1,613 
			 Onley 2,831 991 282 1,229 2,183 7,516 
			 Parkhurst 691 290 497 27 237 1,742 
			 Pentonville 868 1,044 1,528 2,867 5,763 12,070 
			 Portland 1,311 306 1,479 4,100 5,559 12,755 
			 Prescoed176 198 374 
			 Preston 481 2,970 1,712 1,428 4,919 11,510 
			 Ranby 11 160 21 1,198 2,835 4,225 
			 Reading 408 26  368 383 1,185 
			 Risley 3,228 1,691 1,850 8,220 2,481 17,470 
			 Rochester 1,338 3,043 2,333 6,310 2,732 15,756 
			 Send 3,100 134 28   3,262 
			 Shepton Mallet 11 889 635 428  1,963 
			 Shrewsbury 558 60 12  1,182 1,812 
			 Spring Hill120 1,302 1,422 
			 Stafford 113 125 247 785 1,281 2,551 
			 Standford Hill   40 840 1,297 2,177 
			 Stocken 88 17 359   464 
			 Stoke Heath 553 553 675 384 2,388 4,553 
			 Styal 52 469 39 11 194 765 
			 Sudbury 260 182  13  455 
			 Swaleside 35 872 1,880 757 947 4,491 
			 Swansea  398 1,275 225 2,180 4,078 
			 Swinfen Hall 982 153 50  642 1,827 
			 The Verne 188 380 524 781 594 2,467 
			 Thorn Cross   616 1,444 845 2,905 
			 Usk 85  63  1,008 1,156 
			 Wakefield 2,745 6,698 3,294 5,420 4,504 22,661 
			 Wandsworth 2,085 2,164 3,782 5,123 2,196 15,350 
			 Wayland  63 184 1,814 149 2,210 
			 Wealstun 1,969 79  248 5,535 7,831 
			 Weare 788 106 570 360 68 1,892 
			 Wellingborough 196 76 49 240 253 814 
			 Werrington 1,381  115 110  1,606 
			 Wetherby 1,024 1,224 69 125 1,027 3,469 
			 Whatton  504 1,639 27 659 2,829 
			 Whitemoor 1,331 705 737 617 365 3,755 
			 Winchester   185 1,616 4,032 5,833 
			 Woodhill 27 27 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 9,376 8,314 493 321  18,504 
			 Wymott 265 35  253 1,327 1,880 
			 Totals 90,672 92,845 101,325 144,309 170,606 599,757 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are construction costs, excluding professional fees. The additional accommodation programme and associated ancillaries are not included. Minor maintenance works undertaken locally are also excluded.

Prisons

Ann Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the latest estimates are for the maintenance and refurbishment of each prison for the next five years.

Paul Goggins: The latest estimates for maintenance and refurbishment set out in the following table are for the financial years 2004–05 and 2005–06. Funding allocations for the years 2006–07 to 2008–09 will be determined in the Spending Review 2004.
	
		Prison Service maintenance/refurbishment—Future years
		
			 Establishments 2004–05 2005–06 2004–05 2005–06 Total (£000) 
		
		
			 Acklington 280 9 308 1,809 2,117 
			 Albany 34 120 96 137 233 
			 Ashwell — — 347 0 347 
			 Askham Grange — — 37 0 37 
			 Aylesbury 36 — 2,790 115 2,905 
			 Bedford 528 13 528 13 541 
			 Belmarsh 371 12 566 12 568 
			 Birmingham 770 767 3,134 966 4,100 
			 Blantyre House 388 21 388 21 409 
			 Blundeston 1,051 245 1,051 245 1,296 
			 Brinsford — — 931 37 968 
			 Bristol 5 390 138 430 568 
			 Brixton 1,393 46 1,693 6,697 8,390 
			 Brockhill — — 4,175 91 4,266 
			 BuckleyHall 375 24 1,241 54 1,295 
			 Bullingdon 49 — 49 0 49 
			 Bullwood Hall 1,384 250 1,630 263 1,893 
			 Camp Hill 764 19 921 19 940 
			 Canterbury 25 148 3,175 2,976 6,151 
			 Cardiff 316 22 1,219 129 1,348 
			 Castington 3 800 243 825 1,068 
			 Channings Wood 1,093 38 1,779 58 1,837 
			 Chelmsford 319 544 739 695 1,434 
			 Coldingley 196 — 196 0 196 
			 Cookham Wood 188 162 188 162 350 
			 Dartmoor 385 1,515 6,958 5,948 12,906 
			 Deerbolt 205 6 464 49 513 
			 Dorchester 268 211 364 211 575 
			 Dover 830 242 1,304 258 1,562 
			 Downview — 290 6,217 2,516 8,733 
			 Drake Hall — 300 530 382 912 
			 Durham 28 — 3,911 4,250 8,161 
			 East Sutton Park 900 333 1,243 346 1,589 
			 Eastwood Park 128 — 185 0 185 
			 Edmunds Hill 308 10 308 10 318 
			 Elmley 693 21 693 21 714 
			 Erlestoke 37 — 416 37 453 
			 Everthorpe 30 — 867 20 887 
			 Exeter — 1,150 0 1,150 1,150 
			 Featherstone 996 375 996 375 1,371 
			 Feltham 165 449 3,790 1,343 5,133 
			 Ford — — 0 0 0 
			 Foston Hall 383 — 383 0 383 
			 Frankland — 1,100 2,775 1,675 4,450 
			 Full Sutton 278 1,766 353 1,768 2,121 
			 Garth — — 26 0 26 
			 Gartree 860 4,000 1,239 6,900 8,139 
			 Glen Parva 181 966 181 966 1,147 
			 Gloucester 332 114 332 114 446 
			 Grendon 2,049 404 2,049 404 2,453 
			 Guys Marsh 391 735 427 735 1,162 
			 Haslar 666 17 666 17 683 
			 Haverigg — — 49 0 49 
			 Hewell Grange — 310 0 310 310 
			 High Down 1,883 1,813 1,883 1,813 3,696 
			 Highpoint South 101 2 2,434 52 2,486 
			 Hindley — — 1,738 953 2,691 
			 Hollesley Bay 711 365 711 365 1,076 
			 Holloway 2,812 2,459 3,162 5,943 9,105 
			 Huntercombe — 350 0 350 350 
			 Holme House 69 165 427 217 644 
			 Hull 34 — 34 0 34 
			 Kingston — — 1,571 46 1,617 
			 Kirkham — — 133 0 133 
			 Kirklevington 511 15 572 15 587 
			 Lancaster Castle — — 0 0 0 
			 Lancaster Farms — — 1,238 50 1,288 
			 Latchmere House — 300 0 300 300 
			 Leeds 800 1,214 830 1,214 2,044 
			 Leicester 1,106 118 1,106 118 1,224 
			 Lewes 826 18 864 3,518 4,382 
			 Leyhill — 336 0 336 336 
			 Lincoln — 220 6,799 3,964 10,763 
			 Lindholme 484 426 674 455 1,129 
			 Littlehey 519 12 519 12 531 
			 Liverpool — — 1,709 7,000 8,709 
			 Long Lartin 1,020 30 1,850 47 1,897 
			 Low Newton — 313 0 313 313 
			 Maidstone 1,922 788 3,316 824 4,140 
			 Manchester 415 664 415 664 1,079 
			 Moorland 20 40 770 522 1,292 
			 Morton Hall 354 95 354 95 449 
			 Mount 478 11 478 11 489 
			 New Hall — — 1,834 46 1,880 
			 North Sea Camp 208 144 208 144 352 
			 Northallerton 538 156 568 156 724 
			 Norwich 214 162 3,013 1,376 4,389 
			 Nottingham 420 461 420 461 881 
			 Onley 1,116 2,602 1,648 2,618 4,266 
			 Parkhurst 1,165 34 1,789 819 2,608 
			 Pentonville 2,137 2,031 6,234 4,055 10,289 
			 Portland 20 293 4,157 5,859 10,016 
			 Prescoed — — 0 0 0 
			 Preston 5,612 3,180 5,612 3,180 8,792 
			 Ranby 117 — 117 0 117 
			 Reading 314 — 314 0 314 
			 Risley — — 34 0 34 
			 Rochester 533 18 533 18 551 
			 Send — — 0 0 0 
			 Shepton Mallet 592 1,308 1,492 2,808 4,300 
			 Shrewsbury — 488 208 497 705 
			 Spring Hill 288 15 288 15 303 
			 Stafford 937 21 2,040 55 2,095 
			 Standford Hill 1,764 654 1,764 654 2,418 
			 Stocken 80 — 80 0 80 
			 Stoke Heath 1,146 504 1,806 536 2,342 
			 Styal 210 164 710 164 874 
			 Sudbury — — 0 0 0 
			 Swaleside 144 420 144 420 564 
			 Swansea 2,185 858 2,201 858 3,059 
			 Swinfen Hall 393 224 393 224 617 
			 The Verne 1,261 136 1,261 136 1,397 
			 Thorn Cross — — 0 0 0 
			 Usk 472 2,900 472 2,900 3,372 
			 Wakefield — 730 7,483 3,630 11,113 
			 Wandsworth 753 5,900 1,189 15,915 17,104 
			 Wayland 236 698 236 698 934 
			 Wealstun 3,796 858 3,796 858 4,654 
			 Weare — — 0 0 0 
			 Wellingborough — — 15 25 40 
			 Werrington — — 0 0 0 
			 Wetherby 1,800 100 1,830 100 1,930 
			 Whatton 76  76 0 76 
			 Whitemoor 2 195 353 203 556 
			 Winchester 1,781 776 4,362 1,021 5,383 
			 Woodhill — — 167 33 200 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 386 715 820 1,715 2,535 
			 Wymott 103  103 0 103 
			 Totals — — 157,635 126,953 284,588 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are construction costs, excluding professional fees.
	The additional accommodation programme and associated ancillaries are not included.
	Minor maintenance works undertaken locally are also excluded.
	The figures show current programmed work and may be adjusted and further work added.

Prisons

Ann Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated cost of the backlog in maintenance for each prison establishment is; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The estimated cost of identified maintenance is as follows:
	
		Prison Service—Estimated Outstanding Maintenance
		
			 Establishment Estimated Outturn 
		
		
			 Acklington 8,459 
			 Albany 12,409 
			 Ashwell 2,444 
			 Askham Grange 1,081 
			 Aylesbury 5,515 
			 Bedford 3,245 
			 Belmarsh 349 
			 Birmingham 7,186 
			 Blakenhurst 31 
			 Blantyre House 1,311 
			 Blundeston 2,160 
			 Brinsford 5,104 
			 Bristol 7,701 
			 Brixton 3,936 
			 Brockhill 3,540 
			 Buckley Hall 1,501 
			 Bullingdon 3,678 
			 Bullwood Hall 2,668 
			 Camp Hill 3,950 
			 Camp Hill Farm 293 
			 Canterbury 4,032 
			 Cardiff 6,933 
			 Castington 4,517 
			 Channings Wood 2,389 
			 Chelmsford 5,248 
			 Coldingley 4,644 
			 Cookham Wood 376 
			 Dartmoor 6,653 
			 Deerbolt 2,843 
			 Dorchester 7,315 
			 Dover 3,739 
			 Downview 2,942 
			 Drake Hall 2,164 
			 Durham 1,379 
			 East Sutton Park 2,625 
			 Eastwood Park 359 
			 Edmunds Hill 1,993 
			 Elmley 206 
			 Erlestoke 4,239 
			 Everthorpe 3,967 
			 Exeter 4,349 
			 Featherstone 19,454 
			 Feltham 5,633 
			 Ford 4,658 
			 Foston Hall 836 
			 Frankland Hall 2,039 
			 Full Sutton 3,061 
			 Garth 1,897 
			 Gartree 5,692 
			 Glen Parva 13,760 
			 Gloucester 3,060 
			 Grendon 6,306 
			 Guys Marsh 8,026 
			 Haslar 1,367 
			 Haverigg 4,318 
			 Hewell Grange 3,905 
			 High Down 3,841 
			 Highpoint South 3,246 
			 Hindley 1,356 
			 Hollesley Bay 2,922 
			 Holloway 16,066 
			 Holme House 1,983 
			 Hull 4,289 
			 Huntercombe 2,870 
			 Kingston 2,439 
			 Kirkham 3,037 
			 Kirklevington 1,263 
			 Lancaster Castle 5,489 
			 Lancaster Farms 1,026 
			 Latchmere House 958 
			 Leeds 8,873 
			 Leicester 5,011 
			 Lewes 6,680 
			 Leyhill 3,407 
			 Lincoln 3,287 
			 Lindholme 4,518 
			 Littlehey 5,697 
			 Liverpool 12,382 
			 Long Lartin 1.488 
			 Low Newton 1,001 
			 Maidstone 7,080 
			 Manchester 4,353 
			 Moorland 1,142 
			 Moorland Open 965 
			 Morton Hall 629 
			 Mount 3,482 
			 New Hall 5,099 
			 Newbold Revel 2,705 
			 North Sea Camp 5,184 
			 Northallerton 1,054 
			 Norwich 6,199 
			 Nottingham 2,841 
			 Onley 9,941 
			 Parkhurst 6,896 
			 Pentonville 1,425 
			 Portland 12,421 
			 Prescoed 3,343 
			 Preston 881 
			 Ranby 3,066 
			 Reading 2,324 
			 Risley 11,847 
			 Rochester 1,184 
			 Send 2,173 
			 Shepton Mallett 5,231 
			 Shrewsbury 13,414 
			 Spring Hill 6,293 
			 Stafford 14,451 
			 Standford Hill 13,207 
			 Stocken 6,149 
			 Stoke Heath 17,362 
			 Styal 4,025 
			 Sudbury 249 
			 Swaleside 2,116 
			 Swansea 2,726 
			 Swinfen Hall 2,231 
			 Thorn Cross 528 
			 Usk 2,333 
			 Verne 13,011 
			 Wakefield 11,242 
			 Wandsworth 17,779 
			 Wayland 1,534 
			 Wealstun 556 
			 Wealstun (closed) 1,353 
			 Wellingborough 13,361 
			 Werrington 2,035 
			 Wetherby 2,014 
			 Whatton 1,253 
			 Whitemoor 481 
			 Winchester 7,617 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 6,783 
			 Wymott 7,616 
			 Total 609,798

Probation

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether probation hostels in England and Wales will be subject to contestability following the creation of the National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: The structure of the National Offender Management Service is yet to be finalised. As part of the implementation of the Reducing Crime—Changing Lives reforms details of contestability and the arrangements for the management of probation hostels in England and Wales are being developed.

Science Strategy

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to enhance science in his Department since the publication of the Government's science strategy, Investing in Innovation.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office continues to ensure that science and technology make a significant contribution to the delivery of the Department's aims. Our new Strategic Plan commits the Department to a more proactive use of science, technology and research to drive policy and practice. The appointment of our Chief Scientific Advisor has enabled a more strategic management and focus of science on policy priorities. The Forward Look entry summarises our significant investment in hard science, social science and data flows.
	As far as innovation specifically is concerned, we try as far as possible to ensure that Intellectual Property Rights in research commissioned by the Home Office remains with the researcher and to work in partnership with commercial companies on development projects. Some restrictions on this are sometimes necessary in so far as it would not be in the national interest to share our research activity. However, management of knowledge and innovation will be key, especially since in many areas we are looking to a wider range of providers and more innovative ways of delivering services. Since its launch in July 2002, the Investing in Innovation strategy has provided the opportunity for the department to work more closely with the science base in co-operation with the research councils. In particular, the Home Office has excellent links with Economic Social Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. We have been working closely with the latter to support the crime prevention programme. We have established a structure to ensure that our Public Sector Research Establishment—the Forensic Science Service—is fully engaged in effective knowledge transfer in the spirit of the Baker report.
	It is vital that we pursue our objectives in partnership with other Government departments, academia and the private sector and this approach will be at the heart of our science and innovation strategy.

Sentencing Statistics

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes that the Sentencing Guidelines Council should have a role in (a) reducing sentence lengths and (b) less serious offenders being jailed.

Paul Goggins: The work of the Sentencing Guidelines Council will lead to a greater consistency in sentencing around the country. The Government has made it clear that prison should be used only for the most serious, dangerous and persistent offenders.

Shoplifting

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women were imprisoned for shoplifting offences in each criminal justice area in 2002.

Paul Goggins: The information in the following table gives the number of persons sentenced and sentenced to immediate custody for "stealing from shops and stalls", by gender and criminal justice system area, England and Wales 2002.
	It should be noted that courts' sentencing decisions are influenced by the seriousness of the offence and take into account previous convictions.
	
		Number of persons sentenced and sentenced to immediate custody at all courts for "Stealing from shops and stalls", by sex and criminal justice system area England and Wales 2002(40)
		
			  Males Females Total 
			 Criminal justice system area Sentenced Sentenced to immediate custody Sentenced Sentenced to immediate custody Sentenced Sentenced to immediate custody 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 1,442 373 426 63 1,868 436 
			 Bedfordshire 703 221 225 47 928 268 
			 Cambridgeshire 633 82 220 15 853 97 
			 Cheshire 1,097 226 372 52 1,469 278 
			 Cleveland 1,267 162 482 43 1,749 205 
			 Cumbria 486 69 166 13 652 82 
			 Derbyshire 999 265 270 42 1,269 307 
			 Devon and Cornwall 1,363 183 353 28 1,716 211 
			 Dorset 696 197 186 37 882 234 
			 Durham 726 125 255 42 981 167 
			 Essex 1,252 414 379 72 1,631 486 
			 Gloucestershire 593 95 221 15 814 110 
			 Greater Manchester 3,540 870 1,197 175 4,737 1,045 
			 Hampshire 1,877 299 577 36 2,454 335 
			 Hertfordshire 713 167 253 32 966 199 
			 Humberside 1,248 301 382 41 1,630 342 
			 Kent 1,917 539 607 85 2,524 624 
			 Lancashire 2,035 424 771 93 2,806 517 
			 Leicestershire 1,011 187 298 22 1,309 209 
			 Lincolnshire 731 107 228 25 959 132 
			 Merseyside 2,307 422 1,012 172 3,319 594 
			 London(41) 9,111 2,730 2,605 518 11,716 3,248 
			 Norfolk 796 130 247 17 1,043 147 
			 Northamptonshire 649 165 186 27 835 192 
			 Northumbria 1,937 347 791 101 2,728 448 
			 North Yorkshire 698 122 259 22 957 144 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,480 312 551 73 2,031 385 
			 South Yorkshire 1,964 528 631 87 2,595 615 
			 Staffordshire 1,037 267 345 67 1,382 334 
			 Suffolk 550 98 189 14 739 112 
			 Surrey 515 66 143 5 658 71 
			 Sussex 1,317 345 371 60 1,688 405 
			 Thames Valley 1,691 292 562 65 2,253 357 
			 Warwickshire 399 84 112 8 511 92 
			 West Mercia 1,037 247 285 27 1,322 274 
			 West Midlands 4,016 1,020 1,395 211 5,411 1,231 
			 West Yorkshire 2,919 932 961 201 3,880 1,133 
			 Wiltshire 556 92 206 15 762 107 
			 Dyfed Powys 268 33 83 3 351 36 
			 Gwent 505 65 216 11 721 76 
			 North Wales 722 123 238 18 960 141 
			 South Wales 1,271 166 500 37 1,771 203 
			 England and Wales 60,074 13,892 19,756 2,737 79,830 16,629 
		
	
	(40) These data are on the principal
	(41) Includes the Metroplitan Police and the City of London

Traffic Officers

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) traffic enforcement officers, (b) traffic wardens and (c) council parking attendants were operating in each police authority area in each year since 1999–2000.

Caroline Flint: There is no group specifically designated as traffic enforcement officers. Provision for Highways Agency traffic officers is included in the Traffic Management Bill currently before Parliament.
	The number of traffic wardens employed by each of the police authorities in England and Wales for the last four years is given in the table attached.
	No record is kept centrally of the number of parking attendants employed by local authorities or by contractors who carry out enforcement on their behalf.
	
		Selected IndicatorsTraffic Wardens
		
			 Values 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Forces 
			 Avon and Somerset 59 48 44 43 
			 Bedfordshire 9 3 3 2 
			 Cambridgeshire 35 38 36 35 
			 Cheshire 25 20 20 19 
			 City of London 0 0 0 0 
			 Cleveland 13 10 12 7 
			 Cumbria 6 0 0 0 
			 Derbyshire 50 44 50 48 
			 Devon and Cornwall 119 110 101 103 
			 Dorset 41 37 12 0 
			 Durham 22 19 19 15 
			 Dyfed-Powys 14 15 12 13 
			 Essex 102 82 59 38 
			 Gloucestershire 35 30 30 31 
			 Greater Manchester 96 88 87 88 
			 Gwent 30 28 28 27 
			 Hampshire 53 53 31 25 
			 Hertfordshire 38 45 42 35 
			 Humberside 53 51 51 48 
			 Kent 1 0 0 0 
			 Lancashire 94 87 84 50 
			 Leicestershire 67 65 72 61 
			 Lincolnshire 20 21 21 21 
			 Merseyside 106 93 63 52 
			 Metropolitan Police 817 689 632 687 
			 Norfolk 37 33 34 33 
			 Northamptonshire 16 11 7 7 
			 Northumbria 70 72 71 59 
			 North Wales 12 12 8 7 
			 North Yorkshire 19 12 10 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 58 39 30 29 
			 South Wales 100 104 100 99 
			 South Yorkshire 62 71 77 68 
			 Staffordshire 24 17 12 10 
			 Suffolk 31 29 29 25 
			 Surrey 16 25 20 17 
			 Sussex 110 98 62 61 
			 Thames Valley 58 45 51 42 
			 Warwickshire 8 9 9 9 
			 West Mercia 30 23 21 15 
			 West Midlands 175 128 78 74 
			 West Yorkshire 116 107 99 98 
			 Wiltshire 15 7 7 7

Traffic Officers

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many traffic wardens there are in (a) Avon and Somerset and (b) Devon and Cornwall.

Caroline Flint: The number of traffic wardens employed by the police authorities in (a) Avon and Somerset and (b) Devon and Cornwall for the financial year 2002 to 2003 were 43 and 103 respectively.
	Under the provisions of the Road Traffic Act 1991, local authorities can apply for parking restrictions in their areas to be decriminalised and enforced by the authority under civil law. Many have now done so and this has led to a marked decline in traffic warden numbers. In Avon and Somerset the local authorities for Bath & NE Somerset, Taunton Deane, and Bristol now have decriminalised parking enforcement (DPE) schemes. In Devon and Cornwall only Plymouth local authority is covered by DPE powers.

Wormwood Scrubs

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the payments of compensation as a result of claims against HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs in the last 10 years for which figures are available, broken down by perceived ethnic background of the complainant, including the Irish community and the Gypsy and Traveller community.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 2 March 2004
	A list of payments made is set out in the table. Data are not centrally collated to separately identify claimants from the Gypsy and Traveller community. These figures do not include claims for loss of property or accidents.
	
		As at 11February 2004
		
			 Ethnicity Amount (£) 
		
		
			 Black 30,000 
			 White 9,000 
			 White 42,000 
			 Black-African 20,000 
			 Black 22,000 
			 White 100,500 
			 Arabic-Algeria 20,000 
			 White 24,500 
			 Irish 28,000 
			 White 23,250 
			 White 20,000 
			 Irish 71,560 
			 White 20,000 
			 White 18,000 
			 Black-Caribbean(42) 1,000 
			 Black 24,000 
			 White 8,000 
			 White 22,000 
			 White 22,500 
			 Irish 20,000 
			 White-Scottish 22,000 
			 White 4,000 
			 Black 22,500 
			 White 20,000 
			 Black-Caribbean 20,000 
			 White 10,000 
			 Polish 41,000 
			 Black 27,000 
			 White 25,000 
			 Black 19,000 
			 Black 20,000 
			 White 24,000 
			 Black-African 55,000 
			 Irish 32,500 
			 White 17,000 
			 Irish(43) 2,000 
			 Black 27,000 
			 Black 6,500 
			 Polish 20,000 
			 White 55,000 
			 White 13,500 
			 Black 5,000 
			 Black 33,750 
			 Arabic-African 15,000 
			 White 20,000 
			 Black 25,000 
			 Black 13,000 
			 White 14,000 
			 Total 1,137,060 
		
	
	(42) Damages: £1000 interim payment.
	(43) Interim payment.